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[webfact]

Germany must ready for turbulent times under Trump - foreign minister

REUTERS

 

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier speaks during a media conference at the San Carlos palace in Bogota, Colombia, January 13, 2017. REUTERS/Jaime Saldarriaga

 

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany must brace itself for turbulent times under U.S. President Donald Trump, Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said on Sunday, adding that free trade and trans-Atlantic cooperation to fight extremism and terrorism were key for Berlin.

 

Steinmeier, who in August said Trump was a "Hassprediger" or "hate preacher", wrote in the mass-circulation Bild newspaper that some members of the new U.S. administration understand the importance of allies like Germany.

 

"I know, we must prepare ourselves for turbulent times, unpredictability and uncertainty," Steinmeier said. "But I am convinced that we will find in Washington attentive listeners, who know that even big countries need partners in this world."

 

Trump unsettled German leaders with remarks such as that Britain will not be the last country to leave the European Union and with threats to impose high tariffs on imports from China and Mexico.

 

Their response after he took office on Friday has been mixed.

 

Chancellor Angela Merkel, who attended the opening of a museum outside Berlin as Trump was being sworn in on Friday, has said she would seek compromises with Trump on issues like trade and military spending and that she would work on preserving the important relationship between Europe and the United States.

 

Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel said on Friday Germany should prepare for a rough ride under the new U.S. president and that Europe would have to craft a new economic policy geared toward China should Trump pursue protectionism.

 

Trump has also criticised Merkel's decision in 2015 to throw open Germany's borders to asylum seekers, and has said he believes the NATO military alliance is obsolete.

 

German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen said in an interview with the Handelsblatt newspaper to be published on Monday: "NATO is not a (business) deal. You can't buy trust."

 

Under fire from Trump for not meeting NATO's goals of spending two percent of national output on defence, Germany said this week it would meet that goal and demanded that the new U.S. administration map out a consistent foreign policy.

 

Von der Leyen said that European countries should be ready to modernise the almost 70 years old military alliance and split its financing in a fairer manner.

 

(reporting by Joseph Nasr,; editing by Jane Merriman)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-01-23

[NumbNut]

The WORLD must be ready for turbulent times under Trump

[Khun Han]

Germany thought they were as snug as a bug in a rug with their relationship with the USA under the two-faced Obama, and thought that the status quo would continue under the anticipated election of President HRC. They had Europe in their pocket. How things have changed. If any realist (not Europhile dreamers: ignore their idealist, PC waffle) wants to understand why the UK had to escape from the EU right now, before it bacame too late, they should watch Germany's behaviour over the next couple of years .

[Scott]

Off-topic post removed.  

 

[Get Real]

Ooh no! Tatally wrong! The whole world have to prepare for the coming disaster in all areas.

[BuaBS]

Germany must ready for turbulent times with a million muslim invaders and a dictatorial EU.

Spoiler allert : there not ready.

Trump is the very least of their problems.

[Ace of Pop]

They should be more worried of Marcel's greater love of imegrants than her own nationals.


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[boooker]

Germany concentrade that the stock market in the trade of currency aka Euro can compete in the run with USD.Therefore the political situation is EU power driver to hold it in the gage.

Invade tactical on global scale on currency war ....and loosing UK ..good on UK.....now Trump is not the issue its Germany derrail politics and war on power.Then the flux of immigrants whom drill a very large hole into the taxpayer wallet in order to stabilize gov. Banks.Germany could use their assets and basically pay 3x Germanys depth...but it is a war of politics power hungry and National regulated living from other countries agreements...they should start to pay there own fee contra Defence and Member of UN instead being financially covered by USA for a starter

[sanukjim]

4 hours ago, NumbNut said:

The WORLD must be ready for turbulent times under Trump

That is right,The US wont be pussyfooting around like the kiss axx liberals had us doing before.

[tonibuergisser]

Nato should get rid of the USA and get together with Russia.

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[SOUTHERNSTAR]

Hide hide the sky is falling !!!! How pathetic, the real problem in Germany is not Trump but the 1 million unvetted muslim immigrants that entered the country. The Merkel regime is trying to deflect the truth by blaming Trump. Unfortunately she underestimate the German people. She may not loose the coming election but she will loose support.

[Baerboxer]

"Under fire from Trump for not meeting NATO's goals of spending two percent of national output on defence, Germany said this week it would meet that goal and demanded that the new U.S. administration map out a consistent foreign policy.

Von der Leyen said that European countries should be ready to modernise the almost 70 years old military alliance and split its financing in a fairer manner."

 

Germany has been free riding on the backs of US, British and French tax payers for 70 years. Add that to all the aid that was given to rebuild Germany after WW11 and the "miracle" German economic powerhouse isn't such a miracle. Easy to do well when others pick up the tabs.

 

This is the woman who jumped with joy when Britain voted to leave and exclaimed no the blocker was gone she could have her dream EU Military. Of course, under German command and with others still picking up the tab no doubt.

 

Split in a "fairer manner" - sure, how about you paying up all the money you were obliged to pay but didn't over those 70 years for starters?

[Baerboxer]

30 minutes ago, tonibuergisser said:

Nato should get rid of the USA and get together with Russia.

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Hope you're joking. If not seek professional help, rather quickly.

[Baerboxer]

Looks like Angela's let the androids out.

 

Steinmeyer - remember his comment that "elections can't be allowed to change things" when talking about the German / Brussels vision of EU that all must accept without discussion or voting?

 

Merkel was so keen to cuddle up to the democrats that she overlooked Obama bugging her and her cronies phones. Hey, all good PC liberal socialists together and the big picture of super states with PC liberal governments was more important. Hoping to be even closer to Hilary, all girls together.

 

No wonder they're pissed. Their cushy little apple-cart is being upset. And Herr Steinmeyer, elections might very well change things despite what you'd like.

[elgordo38]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

Germany must brace itself for turbulent times under U.S. President Donald Trump, Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said on Sunday,

Sounds like a biblical statement. Not to worry Angela has done a 360 and will go to pay homage to the fair haired one. After all its only politics/business. Lets leave personalities out of this. 

[uptheos]

Who outside Germany actually gives a toss what happens.

Let them go to the little fat lady, I'm sure he has a plan and

if it's as good as the last one, Lord have mercy on 'real' Germans.

[Ralf61]

Cmooon, give those players some time: Donald to get seated and the Europs to learn what to do without getting direct orders from the White House, and with a Donald who does know how to deal with submissive individuals, despite the fact he doesn't appreciate those whiny European Union Susi scrofa domestica that much, I suppose

[uptheos]

Not just Germany, Europe could crumble.

European Far-Right Politicians Talk Strategy For Upcoming Elections

Emboldened by Donald Trump's win and inauguration, several of Europe's top populist leaders gathered in Germany this weekend to strategize on how they might help each other in their upcoming national elections.

 

Marine Le Pen, who heads France's far-right National Front, proved especially popular with the largely German crowd that packed a convention hall yesterday in the historic western city of Koblenz, nestled between the scenic Rhine and Mosel Rivers.

 

She lauded the British decision last year to leave the European Union, dubbed Brexit, which she said would cause "all of the dominoes of Europe to topple." She also spoke glowingly about Trump.

http://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2017/01/22/510834103/european-far-right-politicians-talk-strategy-for-upcoming-elections

[bandito]

19 hours ago, tonibuergisser said:

Nato should get rid of the USA and get together with Russia.

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Huh? Joke of the day.