The conservative leader wants to impose strict border controls after knife killings in Aschaffenburg this week.

Germany's election frontrunner says Europeans are waiting for Germany to take the lead on dealing with the new American president.

German opposition leader Friedrich Merz, tipped to become the next chancellor, said on Thursday he wanted to win back the lost trust of key allies and ensure Berlin is more assertive on the global stage in a speech laying out his foreign policy plans.