Whether threatening to end climate protection policies and imposing import tariffs on European goods or envisioning a new imperialism that claims the Panama Canal and Greenland, Donald Trump It confirms all my worst fears.
Nevertheless, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz congratulated the new US president on his inauguration.
Wishing him “strength and success” in his future role, he said: “Together, we will bring a vital drive towards freedom, peace, security and prosperity and economic development on both sides of the Atlantic. can be done,” he added.
However, Scholz did not attend in Washington, nor did German opposition leader Friedrich Merz of the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU). President Trump only invited politically like-minded politicians, including Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni and Argentine President Javier Milei.
highly confidential diplomatic dispatches
Most German politicians have hinted or openly stated that they would like to see Democratic candidate Kamala Harris enter the White House.
Only Germany’s far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) seems to be hoping for a return to the Trump administration. Trump supporter Elon Musk openly supported the AfD, writing on his Platform
Now, a sensitive assessment by Germany’s ambassador to the United States, Andreas Michaelis, is contributing to rising tensions across the Atlantic. It was a diplomatic cable addressed to German Foreign Minister Annalena Verbock, containing harsh criticism of President Trump, and leaked to the media.
In his statement, the ambassador said that President Trump is pursuing a policy of “maximum disruption” that is seriously undermining fundamental democratic principles and the United States’ system of checks and balances.
Friedrich Merz, candidate for German chancellor from the centre-right CDU, considers the paper a disaster for German-American relations.
“This is a huge blow to the reputation of the German government in Washington. For the time being, no one from this federal government will be able to find an interlocutor in Washington,” Merz said in an interview with German broadcaster Deutschlandfunk. spoke.
Merz: “Europeans must unite”
While Chancellor Scholz took a confrontational stance and harshly criticized President Trump’s claims to Greenland, Chancellor Friedrich Merz took a more positive stance.
According to opinion polls, Merz is likely to become Germany’s next chancellor after the February 23 general election. In that case, Merz would be the head of the German government and would be negotiating directly with Trump.
Merz said he would meet Trump “at eye level” and focus on “uniting European interests.”
“As long as the European member states are united, we will be respected in the world, including the United States. As long as the countries are divided, no one will respect us,” Merz said at the European centre-right summit in Berlin. They won’t take it seriously.” party. “So, in my opinion, this is the final call to action.”
“If the German people give me the mandate as chancellor, one of my priorities will be to work with you on a new chapter in our relationship,” Merz wrote in a handwritten congratulations letter to Trump. It will become one,” he wrote.
“Europe is preparing for tariffs”
The German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) has already warned of serious consequences given the threat of import duties from the US. “The impact of new US tariffs will be severe for the German economy,” DIHK CEO Helena Melnikov told German newspaper Rhine Post.
She pointed out that in Germany, a quarter of jobs depend on exports and a quarter of jobs are related to industry.
That’s why, in contrast to Merz, German Economy Minister Robert Habeck of the Green Party has taken a more combative stance. “Europe is ready. If the U.S. imposes tariffs, which I don’t want or want, Europe will definitely be in a dire situation.” Take measures, including those that affect the American economy. We are in a position,” Habeck said in an interview with DW.
Habeck, who is also responsible for combating climate change, said President Trump’s announcement to withdraw from the Paris climate accord was a “deadly signal for the world.”
But domestically, too, we have seen climate protection increasingly pushed onto the agenda as the election campaign continues.
invited or not invited
CDU Chancellor Angela Merkel dealt with President Trump during his first presidency, when she was chancellor of Germany. She has now reiterated her support for continuing a close partnership with the United States.
In her recently published memoir, the longtime politician openly expressed the difficulties she had with Trump at the time.
At her party’s New Year’s reception, Chancellor Merkel insisted that the transatlantic partnership between Germany and the United States is more essential today than it was a few years ago. He said it was only possible with US support and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) alliance to “achieve that[Russian President Vladimir]Putin does not win the war and that Ukraine remains an independent state.” he added.
President Trump has indicated his intention to end aid to Ukraine and instead seek an early end to the war with President Putin. There are concerns that Ukraine will have to make territorial concessions to achieve this.
Meanwhile, the far-right party AfD, which remains isolated in Germany’s parliament, sees a boost from Trump.
The AfD and President Trump are close on issues of immigration and energy policy. However, the AfD has also repeatedly made anti-American statements. Nevertheless, President Trump’s closeness to the AfD was also evident in Washington. Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz was not invited to the inauguration ceremony, but two prominent AfD politicians, Tino Tjurpala and Beatrix von Storch, attended.
This article was originally published in German.
