Atlantic relations are vital for Germany and Europe." He also highlighted the US' role in the development of democracy in West Germany and NATO's role as a guarantor of Germany's security, reaffirming the US as Germany's closest ally.

Merz, the head of Germany's CDU/CSU conservative bloc, is in line to succeed Social Democratic Chancellor Olaf Scholz, whose fractious coalition with the Greens and the pro-busine

German chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz has spoken out about US President-elect Donald Trump. He noted that the future American leader is "very predictable," Bloomberg reports. Merz said that Trump is a "very predictable leader" with a clear agenda that will force Europe to implement necessary reforms faster.