German Election Debate Intensifies Over Trump Policies and US Relations

Friedrich Merz and SPD leaders clash on strategies for navigating Trump's second term as Bundestag election nears.

Friedrich Merz, the Union's chancellor candidate, emphasized rebuilding trust with European partners while proposing a pragmatic approach to US relations during a major foreign policy speech.
Merz suggested reviving a transatlantic free trade agreement and expanding Germany's global military presence, including sending a naval fleet to the Indo-Pacific region.
SPD leaders criticized Merz for what they view as an overly accommodating stance toward Trump, urging a firmer opposition to perceived threats to democracy and transatlantic norms.
Key SPD figures, including Axel Schäfer and Wolfgang Thierse, called for a 'partnership on equal terms' with the US, rejecting any form of subservience to Trump’s administration.
The upcoming Bundestag election is being framed by some as a referendum on Germany's approach to Trump's leadership and its broader role in the transatlantic alliance.