This is CBSI on the world. I'm John Batchel. Judy Dempsey, my good colleague, is the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Senior Scholar, based in Berlin.

And I come to Judy to understand a fresh look at Europe from the point of view of the Chancellor of all the Germans, Friedrich Merritt

and the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, writing a combined op-ed for the Financial Times

in English, in London. This is the salmon-covered, sometimes pink-covered newspaper that

speaks with great authority.

And both men are agreeing that Europe must do more in self-defense into the future, must spend more.

And it is surprising to all of a sudden recognize, comeeth the hour, comeeth the chancellor.

Friedrich Merritt's over these last weeks, making remarks, has become easily the most

forthright, hawkish representative of the European Union I've seen or read about or heard

about for some time.

This is a man who's ready to take control of the future with a big budget, perhaps as much

as 5% of the GDP, and Germany's economy, when it's right, is very expensive.

So, Judy, I come to you because Friedrich Merritt and Manuel Macron, who is out of office soon enough,

sooner than Friedrich Merritt, is making it very clear right now that Germany is ready to lead

in defense.

Is this something the German people applaud?

Is this going to be news to them?

Is it a surprise to you that a man who was

struggling to become Chancellor that first day when the vote didn't go for him is now so

outspoken for the future and confronting what they call the revisionist state of Russia?

Good evening to you. Good evening, too.

Good evening, John.

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