World leaders have congratulated Friedrich Merz, leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), for winning the German elections. However, as the plaudits rolled in, others were focused on the surge of the far right as the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party celebrated its best showing at the polls at 20.

Merz expressed concern over changing relations with Washington under the Trump administration, emphasizing the need for gradual independence from the U.S.

With Germany's election results in, Friedrich Merz emerges as a key figure who has promised to reshape Europe-US relations