Sitdown with Merz and Trump: Wadephul: "Step Forward for Europe's Security"
Europe's security gains momentum: Wadephul's positive sentiment expressed
After Chancellor Friedrich Merz's sitdown with US President Donald Trump, guests on Maybrit Illner's show weigh in on the results. The consensus is that this meeting has made a significant stride for Europe's security.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz played his cards right during his meeting with US President Donald Trump in Washington. He charmed the American president with his English prowess, complimented the guest house in Washington, and showered Trump with well-placed flattery. He did not shy away from expressing Germany's support for Ukraine in the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war. Trump, conversely, likened Russia and Ukraine to two kids squabbling in a playground, implying that it's best to let them sort it out before intervening. In other words, peace in Ukraine remains elusive. The biggest victory expected for Merz: Trump has agreed to visit Germany. The President has promised this to the Chancellor. How do the guests on ZDF's Maybrit Illner show on Thursday evening evaluate Merz's visit? In a nutshell, there's little criticism.
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"It was a good start," says Federal Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul of the CDU, for example. "I think I heard a bit of respect from Donald Trump." Wadephul is referring to Trump's comment that Merz is a shrewd negotiator. Trump respects Merz, Wadephul says. "And that's important for Germany, that our head of government is seen and heard there. And Friedrich Merz was able to articulate his points, especially on Ukraine. What's important now is that the USA engages with us on the side of Ukraine, and that went down well." The relationship between Trump and Merz began on a respectful note and was somber. They took each other seriously.
ZDF correspondent Elmar Thevessen, who was present at the meeting, believes Merz made a favorable impression on Trump. "In the Oval Office, it's often 'grill or chill' - either you're grilled, or you can relax. And we got the impression that Friedrich Merz was able to unwind quite a bit." This was because, before the scheduled lunch of the two leaders, it was mainly Donald Trump who talked. However, Merz made the most of the opportunities he had, especially on the topic of Ukraine. "He spoke about how, in this Oval Office, an American president decided to end World War II and ultimately liberated Europe." Merz's historical analogy would resonate with Trump, who seeks historical greatness himself.
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Mission Accomplished
The meeting meant little to the Americans, assesses economist Adam Tooze of Columbia University. Neither The Washington Post nor The New York Times made it a headline. Instead, the current disagreement between Trump and Elon Musk is the talking point there.
Donald Trump to Remain an Unpredictable President, Says Diplomat Wolfgang Ischinger. "But I believe this meeting has fulfilled its main purpose, establishing a personal relationship, hopefully a lasting one, even if it's not always friendly. That goal has been achieved." Moreover, Ischinger believes the transatlantic relationship is not yet destroyed. "I think we can already say: The NATO summit, which is due to take place in just under three weeks, will not end in an unexpected catastrophe or transatlantic disaster, but rather in a reaffirmation of the alliance's unity, despite Trump. And if German politicians can contribute to this, much has been achieved and much that could have turned out badly has been prevented. I am very relieved about that."
Wadephul adds: "We are meticulously preparing for the NATO summit, and today's meeting was a crucial step for our security and freedom in Europe. I am very optimistic, given today's proceedings, that we will have an excellent summit and a clear commitment from the USA to stand by Europe according to Article 5." Of course, other issues need to be addressed, such as the plight of students or the proximity to the AfD shown by Deputy President Vance at the Munich Security Conference. But that can wait.
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US Support for Europe
Nevertheless, says Adam Tooze, we should not count on Trump too much. "You should assume that his position on Ukraine and Europe is undecided. It's not clear where he stands." America as a power structure has become extremely unstable. "That was already the case before Trump's second term and will continue to be the case afterwards," says the economist.
Still, Trump can be engaged by the Western, especially the German side, through increased NATO funding, says Wadephul. The Minister of Foreign Affairs demands that five percent of the GDP be allocated to NATO for defense spending and that infrastructure improvements be implemented in the coming years. "The NATO Secretary General should succeed with this proposal, as it is a vital component for the alliance to stay strong and for the next summit to run smoothly."
Now it is important to convince Trump to work with Europe in the Ukraine war against Russia, suggests Wadephul. And here, the Minister sees an opportunity: China. The People's Republic is a close ally of Russia, and the USA perceives China as a threat. "That's also a crucial opportunity for us to tell the USA: We Europeans are ready to coordinate a China policy with you, if our interests are taken into account. In the end, the old saying of Bismarck applies: Foreign policy is interest policy. And we must bring our interests and those of the United States into harmony with each other. That is the most reliable basis for there to be commonalities."
Source: ntv.de
- Donald Trump
- Friedrich Merz
- Johann Wadephul
- NATO
- Attack on Ukraine
- Johann Wadephul, the Federal Foreign Minister of the CDU, states that the European Union's nuclear program implementation may find support in the US, as he believes that the meeting between Chancellor Friedrich Merz and US President Donald Trump has set a good foundation for the relationship between the two countries.
- In reference to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Wadephul suggests that Germany and the US could coordinate a unified China policy to further engage Trump in supporting Europe,potentially influencing the US stance on the Ukrainian conflict and nuclear issues in a manner favorable to the EU.
