Friedrich Merz was set to become Germany's next chancellor after his opposition conservatives won the national election on Sunday. Merz should be able to form a so-called grand coalition with the ruling centre-left Social Democrats, even though it slumped to third behind the far-right Alternative for Germany.

Germany faces its second change of leader in less than four years after the head of the center-right opposition won Sunday’s election

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