Germany's conservative leader Friedrich Merz said on Thursday the U.S. was at risk of sliding into longer-term authoritarian instability, casting doubt on Washington's presence for Germany’s 70th NATO membership anniversary in May.

Friedrich Merz, the 69-year-old veteran German politician with a hardline stance on migration and an expensive aviation hobby, is the favorite to become the country’s next chancellor in the February 23 federal election.

Friedrich Merz, who is poised to become Germany's chancellor in a CDU-led government, has extensive experience as a lawyer and working with major corporations.

When Germans vote on Sunday, conservative Friedrich Merz is the strong favourite to become the next chancellor after a bitterly fought campaign roiled by the rise of the AfD, a

Friedrich Merz, expected to become Germany's next chancellor, promises a more assertive foreign policy aligned with a strong trans-Atlantic relationship, and a firm stance against Russia and China. He aims for increased military spending and clearer support for Ukraine,