Germany's likely next Chancellor Friedrich Merz questioned on Sunday whether NATO would remain in its "current form" by June in light of comments by U.S. President Donald Trump's administration, and said Europe must quickly establish an independent defence capability.

Germanys probable next chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has raised concerns over NATOs stability following U.S. President Donald Trumps recent remarks urging Europe to take greater responsibility for its own defense.

I wonder whether in June we will still be talking about NATO in its current form, or whether we will have to create an independent European defense structure much sooner,” Merz said. He noted that he had never previously considered such a position,

Election winner likens the Trump administration to Putin’s Russia as he bids to take Europe in a new direction.

Europe must seek to “achieve independence” from the United States, Germany’s likely next chancellor Friedrich Merz said after his opposition conservatives won elections on Sunday, in a vote that also saw surging support for the far-right.