The European leaders, waiting for the Trump administration
The US president elect is again raising concerns with the statements he makes. The EU was quick to respond.
Corina Cristea, 17.01.2017, 14:01
Just days before taking office, the US president elect announced the major priorities of his foreign policy, in an interview with the British daily “The Times” and the German newspaper “Bild”. Reiterating major issues promoted during his election campaign, Donald Trump says he would like more equitable trade agreements for the United States as well as more secure borders, on the same time mentioning that safe regions should be created in Syria. Chancellor Angela Merkel has made “one very catastrophic mistake” by admitting more than 1 million migrants, the future White House leader has also said, stirring discontent in Germany.
Donald Trump’s criticism has infuriated the German deputy chancellor, Sigmar Gabriel, who said that the migrant crisis is a result of the “US flawed interventionist policy” in the Middle East. In another move, the US president elect is hailing Great Britain’s decision to leave the European Union, an organisation which, in his opinion, is on the point of collapsing and which, according to him, is abandoned by other countries too. European unity is the best defence against Donald Trump’s comments, Angela Merkel said shortly afterwards.
The German chancellor said Europe should further fight for its own identity, by implementing policies in accordance with the challenges of the 21st century. The German official also said that Europe should stay united, to counteract the terrorist threat. The EU “does not need outside advice to tell it what to do”, the French president François Hollande responded to the criticism voiced by Donald Trump, whereas the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini has expressed hope that the Europeans will stay united. The EU foreign policy chief told reporters that the bloc was looking for a “partnership which is based on common interests with the United States.” “The European Union has its own, solid, autonomous, strong policies,” Mogherini said. “We always like good company but we determine our own policies.”
In another move, other comments made by Donald Trump, according to whom NATO is “obsolete”, have stirred concern among the NATO member states, contradicting the stand taken by the US defence secretary, designated by Trump, the German foreign minister said. Frank-Walter Steinmeier responded to Trump’s comments by saying it was time Washington made a better agreement, by increasing the other countries’ contributions to NATO’s budget. It will also be interesting to follow the evolution of the relations between Donald Trump’s America and Vladimir Putin’s Russia. Actually, pundits say the new American leader might take into consideration easing the latest sanctions imposed on the Russian Federation by the Obama administration. (translation by D. Vijeu)
