SAEDNEWS: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said in his New Year address that the upcoming year 2026 may be decisive for his country and Europe in general.
In a statement released by the German government’s press service, the chancellor said 2026 “may become the year when Germany and Europe will rebound into decades of peace, freedom and prosperity.” According to him, the year could mark “the moment of a breakthrough,” TASS reported.
The chancellor added that “the world is changing rapidly,” with these shifts affecting everyone. He highlighted the conflict in Ukraine as one of Germany’s main challenges, noting it “presents a direct threat to [Germany’s] freedom and security.”
Addressing economic concerns, he said the German economy “is under pressure generated by the necessary reforms, high spending and international trade conflicts.”
“We are witnessing the return of protectionism in the global economy. Our strategic dependence on raw materials is being used as a tool of geopolitical leverage against our interests more and more often,” he added.
