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.

Germany's mainstream conservatives have won the country's national election, while a far-right party surged to become the country's second-largest party.

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,

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.

Merz expressed concern over changing relations with Washington under the Trump administration, emphasizing the need for gradual independence from the U.S.