Germany makes clear its dislike of Trump policies
Print Edition
GERMANY unleashed a volley of criticism yesterday against US President Donald Trump, for his “short-sighted” policies that have “weakened the West” and hurt European interests.
The sharp words from Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel came after Trump concluded his first official tour abroad that took him to Saudi Arabia, Israel, Brussels and then Italy for a G7 summit.
The rebukes also followed German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s warning on Sunday that the US and Britain may no longer be reliable partners.
Germany’s exasperation was laid bare after the G7 summit, which wrapped up last Saturday with the US refusing to sign up to upholding the 2015 Paris climate accord.
Days earlier, in Saudi Arabia, Trump presided over the signing of the single largest US arms deal in its history, worth US$110 billion over the next decade and including ships, tanks and anti-missile systems.
Gabriel said yesterday that “anyone who accelerates climate change by weakening environmental protection, who sells more weapons in conflict zones and who does not want to politically resolve religious conflicts is putting peace in Europe at risk.”
He added “the short-sighted policies of the American government stand against the interests of the European Union.
“We Europeans must fight for more climate protection, fewer weapons and against religious (fanaticism), otherwise the Middle East and Africa will be further destabilized.”
Germany’s harsh words for Washington, traditionally a close ally, were highly unusual and came as relations have grown increasingly frosty.
The relationship between Merkel and Trump contrasts with the warm ties between the German leader and former US President Barack Obama, who last week traveled to Berlin to attend a conference.
Obama’s participation in a forum with Merkel last Thursday came on the eve of her meeting with Trump in Italy during the G7 summit.
After the summit, Merkel said at an election rally in southern Germany that “the times in which we could completely depend on others are on the way out. I’ve experienced that in the last few days.”
“We, the Europeans, will have to take our fate into our own hands. Our friendship with the US, the UK, our neighborly relationship with Russia and also with other countries count of course. But we must know, we have to fight for our own future,” she said.
In response to Merkel’s comments, the United Kingdom said it would be a “strong partner” to Germany.
The UK’s Interior Minister Amber Rudd said: “We can reassure Mrs Merkel that we want to have a deep and special partnership so that we can continue to maintain European-wide security.”
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
