Germany's Chancellor Merz: “A Deep Divide Has Emerged in the Atlantic”

The order that has existed in the world for the last 80 years has come to an end. This was stated by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at an economic conference organized in Berlin by the Süddeutsche Zeitung.

"We do not yet know what it will look like in a few years, but we know for sure that the order we have known in the West for the last 80 years, and in the East for 35 years, this world order is now – in these days, weeks, months, today, on this day when we are meeting here – has come to an end. And if we want to shape a new world order, it is only possible together with our European neighbors," the media quoted him as saying.

The politician noted that the challenges currently facing the German government are "as diverse as they have rarely been." Among them, Merz listed the conflict in Ukraine, relations with China, and trade disputes with the United States.

"A deep divide has emerged in the Atlantic, which calls into question much – almost everything we considered right and necessary in transatlantic relations over the past decades," the chancellor stated.

Earlier, on November 15, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stated in an interview that a war between Russia and the North Atlantic Alliance could begin before 2029. Previously, he explained, Germany had considered the possibility of such a development by 2029; now, according to the minister, some believe it could happen as early as 2028. Pistorius also cited the opinion of some military historians, according to whom last summer could have been the last peaceful summer.