Germany is not a pawn for others, warns Merz

In his New Year’s speech, the chancellor leaves a message for other great powers. “Let’s not listen to the alarmists and the prophets of doom.”

New year, a new Germany? Or will the new year serve to counter the widespread idea that Germany is losing influence and control?

Friedrich Merz appeared in the New Year’s speech and was very clear: “We are not a pawn of the great powers“.

The leader of the German Government assures that the European country has capabilities and that it is “not a victim of external circumstances” nor is it “powerless” in the face of international developments.

This is at a time when, he reinforced, the world is increasingly uncertain, more divided and with more confrontations. It can be important in calming situations, also based on your self-confidence.

A war in Ukraine was a mandatory topic: “For the fourth year in a row, Ukrainians will celebrate the New Year under the most adverse circumstances – many of them without electricity, under a hail of rockets, fearing for their friends and family. And this is not a distant war that does not affect us. Because we see, increasingly clearly: Russia’s attack was and is part of a plan directed against all of Europe.”

Merz warned that, like other countries, Germany is also the target of “sabotage, espionage and cyberattacks every day.”

Even so, the chancellor assured, the Germany is a safe, “magnificent” countrywhich repeatedly reinvented itself, emerged stronger from the crises.”

“We need to defend and assert our interests much more strongly on our own,” continued the German leader.

Global protectionism, strategic dependencies on raw materials and changing relations with the USA are risks for prosperity and stability.

For 2026, Friedrich Merz left signs of optimism: it will be a year of “new beginnings”. But, to do so, “we need to trust ourselves, our courage and our energy”.

“Let’s not listen to the alarmists and the prophets of doom”, commented Merz.