German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Tuesday said the Trump administration’s new national security strategy highlights the need for Europe to become “much more independent” from the United States in security matters.

Merz, who leads the European Union’s largest economy, also rejected suggestions that European democracy needs saving from external influence.

The U.S. strategy, published Friday, portrays European allies as weak, shows tacit support for far-right parties, and criticizes European free speech and migration policies. European Council President António Costa on Monday warned the U.S. against interference, emphasizing that only Europeans should decide their governments.

Merz said he was not surprised by the strategy, noting it reflected the lecture U.S. Vice President JD Vance gave in Munich in February. “Some of it is understandable, but some of it is unacceptable from a European point of view,” he said in Mainz.

“That the Americans want to save democracy in Europe now, I don’t see any need for that,” Merz added. “If it needed to be saved, we would manage that alone.”

The chancellor said the strategy confirms Europe, and Germany in particular, must increase security independence from the U.S. “This is not a surprise, but it has now been confirmed again. It has been documented,” he said.

Merz noted that Vance’s speech earlier this year influenced Germany’s increased defense spending. Since taking office in May, his government has relaxed debt rules to allow higher military investment, building on efforts that began after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Under pressure from Trump, NATO members, including Germany, agreed in June to a significant rise in defense spending targets.

Merz stressed the importance of partnerships, saying, “America first is fine, but America alone can’t be in your interest. You need partners in the world too. And one of the partners can be Europe. And if you can’t do anything with Europe, then at least make Germany your partner.”