“We are, in fact, a normative alternative to imperialism and autocracy in the world,” Merz said. During the nearly 20-year mission in Afghanistan, launched in response to the September 11 attacks on the U.S., 59 German soldiers lost their lives. “We will not allow this mission, which we also carried out in the interests of our ally, the United States of America, to be disparaged and belittled today,” Merz said to sustained applause. For us in Germany, this is particularly true.”At the same time, Merz is pushing to make Germany more militarily independent of the U.S. Shortly after becoming chancellor last May, Merz vowed to take more responsibility for Europe's defense by building the strongest conventional army in Europe.