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Sigmar Gabriel, former Federal Foreign Minister
Photo: Reiner Zensen / IMAGO
A statement by US presidential candidate Donald Trump about NATO's duty to provide assistance is causing international concern - including in German politics. "Donald Trump's erroneous statements about the US's contractual obligations in the event of an attack on a NATO member prove once again how unpredictable, unscrupulous and unreliable he is," said the German government's transatlantic coordinator, Michael Link (FDP), to the "Tagesspiegel". «. Former Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said the statement was like an invitation to Russian President Vladimir Putin to test the defense alliance. "He won't test us in Germany, but perhaps in the Baltics," warned Gabriel on Deutschlandfunk.
Former US President Trump said at a campaign event in the state of South Carolina that the "president of a great country" once asked him whether the US would still protect this country from Russia even if it did not pay for defense spending. He replied: "No, I wouldn't protect you." In fact, he would "even encourage Russia to do whatever the hell they want." It was unclear whether there had ever been such a conversation between Trump and a head of state, because the Republican also said: "Let's assume that happened."
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Gabriel recalled that Trump had made similar statements in the past. The new statement fits his understanding of politics. Trump is trying to make deals. »What he says isn't all that new. And the problem with that is that there is some truth in it.” It is not correct to explain why the USA contributes more to Europe's security than the Europeans themselves, even though both economies are of similar size. "Still, you can't handle an alliance like that," Gabriel said. The USA is the leading power in NATO.
The CDU foreign politician Norbert Röttgen made a similar statement. A Trump victory in the US presidential election in the fall would plunge NATO into an existential crisis because Trump understands the defense alliance in a transactional way, he told “Bild”. “Anyone who, in their opinion, does not pay enough will not be protected by the USA.” Germany must therefore “understand that we will soon have no choice but to defend ourselves, and that at a time when... Europe is at war. We have to do this as Europeans because anything else would be a capitulation to Putin.”
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier also found clear words: "These statements are irresponsible and even play into Russia's hands," he said during a visit to the Cypriot capital Nicosia. "And no one in our alliance can have an interest in that." The statements do not contribute to the strength that NATO needs.
Federal government sees security guaranteed
There is an election campaign in the USA, said Steinmeier at a joint press conference with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulidis. »Some things are provocative. But even if it is provocative, that doesn't mean we shouldn't take it seriously." At the same time, he appealed to Europeans not to act as if the election in the USA had already been decided.
The federal government tried to appease: "In its security and defense policy, the federal government is clearly relying on the transatlantic alliance and the transatlantic community of values and sees its security guaranteed in NATO," said deputy government spokeswoman Christiane Hoffmann on Monday in Berlin. The federal government “of course took note” of Trump’s statements.
mfh/dpa