Posted on 01/12/2018 4:39:22 PM PST by Olog-hai
When Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th President of the US last January, politicians in Berlin worried that it could have a dramatic impact on relations between the two allies. A year on, there are reasons for optimism, as well as continued concern. […]
Top of the list of German concerns about a Trump administration were his insinuations that the US would no longer automatically come to the defense of Europe in the event of an attack on a NATO member. And the fact that he repeatedly barracked Germany for its trade surplus with the US in his first few weeks in office did nothing to slow pulses on the Spree.
A year after Trump took office, the dust has settled somewhat. But, with the US still not having an ambassador in Berlin, confusion remains over how exactly he wants to deal with Germany. “Policy makers are just as bewildered now as they were 12 months ago,” Dr. Michael Wohlgemuth, a foreign policy expert at Open Europe Berlin, told The Local. “There is still confusion about what exactly he is up to.”
What seems clear on the European side though is that “transatlantic relations have lost their self-evident raison d'être,” argues Wohlgemuth. “In Europe there is a realization that we cannot rely on our US partner anymore. One beneficial effect has been that this has urged Europeans to get their act together.” […]
The biggest division between the two countries, [transatlantic fellow at the German Marshall Fund Kristine] Berzina says, has been on climate change. Trump’s decision to withdraw the US from the Paris climate deal was “a big split” from the Germans, she says. …
(Excerpt) Read more at thelocal.de ...
A moron whom hates her own country is there. No military?
No men are left. Not sure what is left to talk about.
I bet I know the most popular new baby name is...
Oh yeah, and some of the "never Trump" John McCain.
All those words written in this article! And no where does it mention the fact that the primary cause of strain between Germany and Trump is Germany’s refusal to meet its NATO financial obligation
Does such a glaring omission make the entire argument Fake News? As far as I’m concerned...yes, it does. (The Local is a well-known fake news site so any uncertainty must be resolved accordingly.)
One of those s***hole countries.
““Policy makers are just as bewildered now as they were 12 months ago,”...... “There is still confusion about what exactly he is up to.””
Yeah, it’s a real head scratcher. Keep working on it blockheads.
NATO needs a mojor clean-out. That includes the UK. Said that for years. Ungrateful sods.
Indeed, but the USA has to meet what they deem to be the USA’s NATO obligation to defend them while they abrogate their agreements.
But of course, they’re using that as an excuse to build up their EU military on the sneak. Never mind that they’re stiffing the USA; it’s really that the USA doesn’t feel like defending them because, uh, Trump said “America first”.
nazi shithole
It’s pretty much a zero chance that they will ever get up to the two-percent goal. Last week, some German political figure suggested that 1.5 percent was probably the best they could do, and wanted to revamp the overall goal.
On the local.de web site being slanted....yeah, that’s been brought up a thousand times. They reached the point where any criticism of the site on their stories...gets you removed from comment ability. I used to wonder who funded the Local (probably Soros).
But now, with instantaneous peer to peer communication and secure audio/video channels, do we really need full-fledged ambassadors, especially in technologically advanced countries? I imagine lower level staff can do all the required work. The only thing missing would be ceremonial duties, but we could dispatch someone from D.C. as and when needed for such duties.
Trump has correctly, de facto, downgraded our diplomatic mission in Germany.
One beneficial effect has been that this has urged Europeans to get their act together
I guess they got President’s Trump’s point after all.
It is not the United States Taxpayers responsibility to pay for the defense of Europe. Further, if you continue to welcome with open arms invaders that plan on taking over your nation when they are strong enough, then don’t expect Americans to defend you from your own stupidity.
Europe was
Asia is the future)
(yes, Asia includes China)
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