Pro-Israel, Turkey-friendly in Syria: How Merz's win in Germany affects Middle East
Germany’s chancellor-designate, Friedrich Merz, has called for more military support to Israel and criticized the current government over reduced arms exports to the country.
Germany’s next government is expected to pursue a policy of stability in the Middle East, experts told Al-Monitor, with a focus on cooperation with Turkey on Syria and efforts to reduce irregular migration while continuing the pro-Israel policy of its predecessor.
The center-right alliance dubbed CDU/CSU came in first in Sunday’s elections with 28.6% of the vote, followed by the far-right Alternative for Germany winning 20.6% of the vote in its best-ever showing. Current Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats finished in third place with 16.4% of the vote, according to preliminary results.
CDU leader Friedrich Merz, who heads the center-right bloc, has been tasked with forming a new government and is expected to pursue a coalition with the Social Democrats.
Robin Quinville, the director of the Wilson Center’s Global Europe Program, said that the Merz government will focus on "stability" in the Middle East as a means of deterring migration to Europe.
