In his first speech to the Bundestag, the new chancellor emphasized the rearmament of the country and briefly addressed domestic politics, such as immigration, a particularly sensitive issue in the nation.

Germany's newly elected chancellor, Friedrich Merz, called for Berlin to transform its Bundeswehr into the "strongest conventional army in Europe" in his first major speech to parliament.

Our friends and partners also expect this from us, and what’s more, they are actually demanding it,” said the new chancellor.