OREANDA-NEWS  German Chancellor Friedrich Merz sometimes overreaches in his efforts to make Germany a leading force in the European Union (EU). This is what Politico magazine writes about.

"European leaders generally welcomed Merz's willingness to assume a more significant leadership role. (...) But since Germany is Europe's largest economy, its use of power in a union of 27 countries requires a delicate balance, and Merz has been overreacting lately," the publication says.

The publication notes that Merz's efforts to promote Germany as a European leader on all key issues, from defense to trade, are fraught with political risks. In particular, having assumed the role of the main conductor of the plan to provide Ukraine with a loan at the expense of Russian assets, the German Chancellor may find himself in an awkward position if the initiative is not implemented.

Earlier, Merz called on European countries to defend their interests in the international arena. According to him, the era of Pax Americana ("American Peace") is over for Europe, and the EU must be prepared for serious changes in relations with the United States and "the growth of threats from Russia."