After months without contact, Merkel eyes 'reset' with Trump

[rooster59]

After months without contact, Merkel eyes 'reset' with Trump

By Noah Barkin

 

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel attend the Women's Entrepreneurship Finance event during the G20 leaders summit in Hamburg, Germany July 8, 2017. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo

 

BERLIN (Reuters) - Before a phone conversation this week to discuss the war in Syria and Russian nuclear arms, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and U.S. President Donald Trump had not spoken to each other in over five months.

 

That gap, described by diplomats on both sides of the Atlantic as shockingly long, underscores the challenge Merkel faces if she succeeds in forming a coalition government later this month and, as German officials suggest, tries to reset the relationship with Trump.

 

A strong believer in close transatlantic ties, Merkel was the go-to leader in Europe for both Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush when Washington and Berlin were navigating the global financial crisis, Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine and Iran's nuclear programme.

 

But her relationship with Trump got off to a frosty start and has never recovered.

 

At a time of rising transatlantic tensions over trade, the Iran nuclear deal and NATO defence spending, some German officials and analysts worry the personal divide between the brash, impulsive president and cautious, analytical chancellor could lead to a further deterioration in bilateral ties.

 

Jan Techau, a senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund think tank in Berlin, described the five month gap in contact between the leaders before Thursday's phone conversation as a "very very bad sign". He saw no connection with the conservative chancellor's struggle to form a new government more than five months after federal elections.

 

"I don't think it has anything to do with the political limbo in Germany. It is a sign of a relationship where there is no trust," Techau said. "If you don't have a personal relationship between the leaders to fall back on, it can be very difficult to stop the downward spiral."

 

Juergen Hardt, a senior lawmaker in Merkel's Christian Democrat party, said: "Especially in times of stress, when immediate communication is required, they need to be able to pick up the phone and find solutions. There needs to be a good personal relationship and a good working relationship."

 

MACRON

 

German government officials play down the prolonged "radio silence" between Merkel and Trump, noting that the chancellor has ratcheted back her contacts with many foreign leaders during the months of arduous coalition talks at home.

 

They say the dialogue between Germany and the United States at lower levels of the government remains strong.

 

Some question whether any foreign leader can influence Trump, who shocked his European allies again on Thursday by announcing plans to introduce hefty tariffs on imported steel and aluminium, sending financial markets reeling on fears of a trade war.

 

"Germany needs to make up for the vacuum at the top level by engaging on other levels, with Congress, with the states and with civil society," said Thomas Matussek, a former German ambassador to the United Nations and Britain.

 

Still, the contrast between Merkel's icy start with Trump and the rapport that French President Emmanuel Macron has developed with the American president is stark.

 

Macron has gone out of his way to woo Trump with a mix of machismo and flattery. The two engaged in a macho handshake contest when they first met last May. Two months later, Macron hosted Trump at Bastille Day celebrations in Paris, dining with him in the Eiffel Tower.

 

Next month Macron will travel to Washington for the first official state visit by a foreign leader since Trump became president early last year.

 

Over the past five months, Macron and Trump have spoken by phone seven times, according to the Elysee. Over the same span, British Prime Minister Theresa May has spoken with Trump four times, according to Downing Street.

 

U.S. and German officials confirmed to Reuters that before Thursday, Merkel had not spoken with Trump since Sept. 28. She often spoke with Obama and Bush on a weekly basis, according to German officials, who could not recall a gap of more than a month with Trump's two predecessors.

 

PUBLIC OPINION

 

A French official close to Macron rejected the notion that the French president and Merkel were engaged in a coordinated "good cop, bad cop" act with Trump, and noted that the chancellor had to take her more sceptical public into account.

 

"German public opinion towards Trump is a catastrophe. It is much more violent (than in France)," the official said.

 

A poll by the Pew Research Center last year showed that just 11 percent of Germans have confidence in Trump. Another Pew poll published earlier this week showed that 56 percent of Germans view the relationship with the United States as "bad".

 

German officials still expect Merkel -- who has continued to talk with Russia's Vladimir Putin and Turkey's Tayyip Erdogan during times of acute bilateral tensions -- to do her best to re-engage with Trump over the coming months.

 

The two will see each other at a G7 summit in Canada in June and at a NATO summit in Brussels a month later.

 

U.S.-German contacts may pick up if Merkel finally forms a new government. Social Democrat party members are voting on whether to endorse another four years of the 'grand coalition' with the Christian Democrats, with the result of the postal ballot due on Sunday.

 

"Once there is a new government in place all cabinet members will engage. Expect a new wave of visits from Berlin to Washington," one senior official said.

 

But German officials say there are no current plans for Merkel to return to the White House, where Trump ignored entreaties to shake her hand during a meeting in the Oval Office a year ago. And there are no plans for Trump to return to Germany following his visit to Hamburg for a G20 summit last July.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-03-03

[spidermike007]

The man child was offended early on, when Merkel did not bow down sufficiently and kiss the royal butt. And after all of the nasty things he said about Europe, the EU, and NATO, she had good reason to not defer to him. He loves and demands absolute obedience and loyalty, just like the kings did in the old days. She did not behave like a serf, and he was aghast, at her lack of dignity! 

 

What he has not realized yet, is that the US is not quite the player it used to be. No longer the absolute super power it once was. So, when he pretends to be the mighty alpha dog, many just shrug and have a good laugh. 

[natway09]

I like her more everyday,,,,,Why would you want to talk to that goose

[FreddieRoyle]

Merkel is a lame duck, her star is waning. Trump has already humiliated her over the no go zones that Merkel this week has finally conceeded DO exist, contrast that to a year ago and her denial of the matter, and she got her knickers in a twist over Trumps calling her out. This week she admits

 “There are such areas and one has to call them by their name and do something about them.”

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/merkel-says-germany-has-no-go-areas-govt-wont-say-where/2018/02/28/00993bd0-1ca9-11e8-98f5-ceecfa8741b6_story.html?utm_term=.e030fff6a076

 

 

Let's see if Trump can keep that woman at an arms length, she will be hoping some of the winning magic that Trump spreads around like confetti will rub off on her.

[metisdead]

Posts containing offensive comments have been removed. 

[IAMHERE]

8 hours ago, rooster59 said:

A poll by the Pew Research Center last year showed that just 11 percent of Germans have confidence in Trump.

Wonder what the poll question was? I'd bet more than 11 percent are in favor of American soldiers dying when needed to  protect their nation from Russia and are confident Trump will oblige. 

Putin just put the fear of God into Merkel with his Nuclear speech.

Edited March 3, 2018 by IAMHERE
grammar

[boomerangutang]

Note to Merkel and Macron:   Trump was an uninformed horses ass before, and he's still an uninformed horse's ass.  People in their 70's don't change their character.  If anything, Trump is closer to dementia than he was when he made an ass of himself in earlier meetings.

 

Just so you don't have any expectations of Trump being any bit wise or well-versed like Obama was.  It's the nature of a poison oak tree to put out poison oak acorns, ....not figs.  Probably best if you treat Trump like you would a partially deranged uncle, .....don't anger him, and don't miss every chance to praise him, even if there's nothing to praise.  He will like you, and do anything you want, if you shower him in praise.  Hint: complement his hair, his physique, his golf skills, his handsome good looks.   If you tell him he doesn't look a day over 25, he'll want to build a Trump Tower in your city, and he'll get his chef to bake you a chocolate cake like you've never seen before.

[simple1]

8 hours ago, IAMHERE said:

Wonder what the poll question was? I'd bet more than 11 percent are in favor of American soldiers dying when needed to  protect their nation from Russia and are confident Trump will oblige. 

Putin just put the fear of God into Merkel with his Nuclear speech.

Likely far more Germans would die in the event of a Russian attack  than US citizens. Last year a NATO assessment claimed NATO would have major difficulties to contain  Russian conventional attack on NATO's Eastern Borders, so at what point would NATO escalate to a nuclear response, if at all.

 

Concern's voiced by Trump and Merkel really talk to the possibility of another arms race.

[StraightTalk]

54 minutes ago, simple1 said:

Concern's voiced by Trump and Merkel really talk to the possibility of another arms race.

Sadly, the arms race was reinvigorated right after the fall of the Berlin wall. Both NATO and USA failed significantly by adhering to commitments/treaties made previously.

[mrwebb8825]

On 3/3/2018 at 2:29 PM, spidermike007 said:

What he has not realized yet, is that the US is not quite the player it used to be. No longer the absolute super power it once was. 

Oh he realizes it alright. He ran his entire campaign on the fact that his predecessors were giving away the country to pander to the thieves in the market and he was going to put a stop to that crap.

Edited March 7, 2018 by mrwebb8825

[boomerangutang]

Merkel's 2nd most important job (#1 being PM for Germany) is trying to keep Trump from causing too many problems for Europe.  Since the 19th Century, the US has always been friends with Europe and worked (sometimes fighting) together to improve things.   Now, with Trump as US prez, the dynamic has changed - for the worse - particularly with Trump being bosom buddies with Vlad The Interferer.

 

On a side note, did the Brits officially withdraw their invite to Trump?  I hope so.

[spidermike007]

8 minutes ago, mrwebb8825 said:

Oh he realizes it alright. He ran his entire campaign on the fact that his predecessors were giving away the country to pander to the thieves in the market and he was going to put a stop to that crap.

And how is he not pandering to the thieves? How has he not re-populated the swamp? He has never met a lobbyist he does not like. The day after a meeting with the NRA lobbyist, he completely backed off his promises to reform gun control. He is an absolute whore. What is he doing differently, to show any kind of integrity? 

[alwaysrainsinUK]

On 03/03/2018 at 7:29 AM, spidermike007 said:

The man child was offended early on, when Merkel did not bow down sufficiently and kiss the royal butt. And after all of the nasty things he said about Europe, the EU, and NATO, she had good reason to not defer to him. He loves and demands absolute obedience and loyalty, just like the kings did in the old days. She did not behave like a serf, and he was aghast, at her lack of dignity! 

 

What he has not realized yet, is that the US is not quite the player it used to be. No longer the absolute super power it once was. So, when he pretends to be the mighty alpha dog, many just shrug and have a good laugh. 

What ! after what that woman has done to her own country people with the immigrants treating the place an the Germans like trash i hope some day she is before the dock .

   The woman has just recently admitted to no go zones in Germany !! 

 

   Trump looks good compared to her or those self elected EU loons

[mikebike]

On 3/3/2018 at 5:14 PM, FreddieRoyle said:

Merkel is a lame duck, her star is waning.

Yes, correct again. That freaking lame duck couldn't even form a new government on Monday.

 

Oh wait a minute...

[mikebike]

On 3/3/2018 at 8:28 PM, IAMHERE said:

Wonder what the poll question was? I'd bet more than 11 percent are in favor of American soldiers dying when needed to  protect their nation from Russia and are confident Trump will oblige. 

Putin just put the fear of God into Merkel with his Nuclear speech.

The question was: "Do you have confidence in the US president to do the right thing regarding world affairs?"

[mrwebb8825]

2 hours ago, alwaysrainsinUK said:

What ! after what that woman has done to her own country people with the immigrants treating the place an the Germans like trash i hope some day she is before the dock .

   The woman has just recently admitted to no go zones in Germany !! 

 

   Trump looks good compared to her or those self elected EU loons

They also got off to an icy start when she endorsed HC during the election campaign and made disparaging remarks about then Candidate Trump, but hey, that wasn't meddling by a foreign government, now was it? 

[Credo]

19 minutes ago, mrwebb8825 said:

They also got off to an icy start when she endorsed HC during the election campaign and made disparaging remarks about then Candidate Trump, but hey, that wasn't meddling by a foreign government, now was it? 

So let's see, did she hack the DNC or RNC?   No.

Did she pay for Facebook ads to interfere?   No.

Are there 13 Germans under indictment for interference?  No.

Were there German intrusions into Voter Registration Polls?   No.

 

So no, she was not meddling.   

 

 

[mrwebb8825]

27 minutes ago, Credo said:

So let's see, did she hack the DNC or RNC?   No.

Did she pay for Facebook ads to interfere?   No.

Are there 13 Germans under indictment for interference?  No.

Were there German intrusions into Voter Registration Polls?   No.

 

So no, she was not meddling.   

 

 

By your rational, stealing a piece of gum is fine but stealing the gum machine is theft?  Very democratic of you.

[ilostmypassword]

3 minutes ago, mrwebb8825 said:

By your rational, stealing a piece of gum is fine but stealing the gum machine is theft?  Very democratic of you.

As any rational person would realize, the problem isn't that some foreign government or officer was trying to influence the election, it's that the Russians were doing it secretly and funding the generation of massive amounts of fake information.

[mrwebb8825]

6 minutes ago, ilostmypassword said:

As any rational person would realize, the problem isn't that some foreign government or officer was trying to influence the election, it's that the Russians were doing it secretly and funding the generation of massive amounts of fake information.

Again, "A little illegal" is ok but "Really illegal" isn't.  You guys crack me up with your double standards.

[ilostmypassword]

4 minutes ago, mrwebb8825 said:

Again, "A little illegal" is ok but "Really illegal" isn't.  You guys crack me up with your double standards.

There is nothing illegal or ehtically wrong about a foreign elected offical expressing an opinion about another nations political race. It may be unwise but that's a different thing. What is clearly unethical is to fund a campaign in secret and generate massive amounts of misinformation designed to sway an electorate. It is sad that you don't can't see the difference.

[roobaa01]

the political lame duck merkel is responsible for the us tension with germany for she and her junta engaged firstly into anti-trump rhetoric as well as bashing. but the hopes faded soonly that president trump might resign from his offices. merkel is crouching to trump begging for mercy for merkel's damaging policy could cause mass unemployment if the usa raises car import tariffs. 

 

wbr

roobaa01

[mikebike]

1 hour ago, mrwebb8825 said:

They also got off to an icy start when she endorsed HC during the election campaign and made disparaging remarks about then Candidate Trump, but hey, that wasn't meddling by a foreign government, now was it? 

Yes, you are quite correct. Having a personal opinion is now considered meddling in an election. How very astute of you to have ferreted this out.

29 minutes ago, mrwebb8825 said:

Again, "A little illegal" is ok but "Really illegal" isn't.  You guys crack me up with your double standards.

Considering studies have shown that at least 70% of the US population has committed a chargeable crime (often driving offenses or cheating on taxes etc...) then yes, a little illegal is considered being a rebel, an idealized "outlaw" and part of the US DNA.

[mikebike]

27 minutes ago, roobaa01 said:

the political lame duck merkel is responsible for the us tension with germany for she and her junta engaged firstly into anti-trump rhetoric as well as bashing. but the hopes faded soonly that president trump might resign from his offices. merkel is crouching to trump begging for mercy for merkel's damaging policy could cause mass unemployment if the usa raises car import tariffs. 

 

wbr

roobaa01

So much wrong here... Do you even know what "junta" means?

[ilostmypassword]

28 minutes ago, roobaa01 said:

the political lame duck merkel is responsible for the us tension with germany for she and her junta engaged firstly into anti-trump rhetoric as well as bashing. but the hopes faded soonly that president trump might resign from his offices. merkel is crouching to trump begging for mercy for merkel's damaging policy could cause mass unemployment if the usa raises car import tariffs. 

 

wbr

roobaa01

considering how much agricultural products the USA sends to Europe and considering that the farm belt is central to Trump's support, the vulnerability goes 2 ways.

[boomerangutang]

1 hour ago, mrwebb8825 said:

They also got off to an icy start when she endorsed HC during the election campaign and made disparaging remarks about then Candidate Trump, but hey, that wasn't meddling by a foreign government, now was it? 

She likes HRC and expressed an opinion.  That's completely different than the concerted and sustained vindictive campaign by Russian agents did re; the election campaign.

 

47 minutes ago, mrwebb8825 said:

Again, "A little illegal" is ok but "Really illegal" isn't.  You guys crack me up with your double standards.

Yes.  There's a difference between pretending to touch a fully-clothed grown woman's breast, and seducing mid-teen girls.   Some illegal things are more dire than other illegal things.

Interesting to see what 'cracks you up.'   Perhaps Putin picking the US's Sec. of State Tillerson cracks you up also.  

[roobaa01]

yes wrong with merkel's illegal policy of letting every freeloader into the country, promoting islamic anti-semitism, media censorship by an incompetent justice minister of the sharia party germany heiko maas, an german army destroying defence ministress called rifle uschi for she cannot distinguish betwix a spoon and a gun.

 

no it is not 2 ways for germany is mainly export driven.

 

wbr

roobaa01

[mikebike]

5 minutes ago, roobaa01 said:

yes wrong with merkel's illegal policy of letting every freeloader into the country, promoting islamic anti-semitism, media censorship by an incompetent justice minister of the sharia party germany heiko maas, an german army destroying defence ministress called rifle uschi for she cannot distinguish betwix a spoon and a gun.

 

no it is not 2 ways for germany is mainly export driven.

 

wbr

roobaa01

Wow... "promoting islamic antisemitism"... where does one start with that?

[ilostmypassword]

13 minutes ago, mikebike said:

Wow... "promoting islamic antisemitism"... where does one start with that?

maybe prescribing medication?

[wabothai]

On 3/3/2018 at 11:14 AM, FreddieRoyle said:

Merkel is a lame duck, her star is waning. Trump has already humiliated her over the no go zones that Merkel this week has finally conceeded DO exist, contrast that to a year ago and her denial of the matter, and she got her knickers in a twist over Trumps calling her out. This week she admits

 “There are such areas and one has to call them by their name and do something about them.”

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/merkel-says-germany-has-no-go-areas-govt-wont-say-where/2018/02/28/00993bd0-1ca9-11e8-98f5-ceecfa8741b6_story.html?utm_term=.e030fff6a076

 

 

Let's see if Trump can keep that woman at an arms length, she will be hoping some of the winning magic that Trump spreads around like confetti will rub off on her.

Merkel is twice the man that 45 is