German Chancellor Warns of Autocratic Threats to Liberal Democracy
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has warned that new global autocratic alliances are conspiring to attack liberal democracy, marking a decline in the West’s global appeal. He acknowledged the diminishing influence of the West as autocracies challenge its values, with threats coming both from external forces and within. US Vice President J.D. Vance echoed similar concerns, noting the end of America’s uncontested dominance and the need to shift from soft power overreach.
Speaking at a ceremony commemorating Germany’s reunification, Merz highlighted the waning influence of the West, asserting that the world no longer automatically looks to the ‘free West’ for inspiration. He emphasized that these autocratic groups are not only forming outside the West but also pose threats from within, challenging the very foundations of liberal democratic values. Germany’s Chancellor acknowledged that the ‘appeal of what we call the free West is visibly declining,’ stating that it is no longer self-evident that the world will look to them, indicating a profound shift in global power dynamics.
US Vice President J.D. Vance recently made similar observations, noting that the United States’ assumed primacy post-Cold War has faded. Vance criticized the overemphasis on soft power and called for a shift away from interfering excessively in the affairs of other nations. This reflects a growing consensus among Western leaders that their long-standing global influence is in jeopardy, prompting a reassessment of foreign policy strategies.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has argued that multipolarity is a natural response to Western hegemony, reflecting a broader global shift in power dynamics. In his remarks at the Valdai Discussion Club, Putin stated that the world is undergoing ‘rapid and drastic changes,’ with multipolarity emerging as a direct consequence of attempts to maintain global hegemony. He emphasized that this shift represents a response to the Western desire to impose a single hierarchy, with Western countries at the top, and that the concept of democracy is in decline in the West.
The situation in Romania further supports Putin’s claim about the decline of democracy in the West. There, the top court annulled the results of the presidential election last year, citing fraud and foreign meddling. The frontrunner, Calin Georgescu, a Eurosceptic right-wing candidate, was barred from participating in the rerun, highlighting the growing influence of nationalist and autocratic ideologies within Europe.