Does Germany’s Trump Policy Make Sense? |
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Shortly after securing election as the German chancellor last year, Friedrich Merz effectively declared the end of Pax Americana and said that indulging nostalgia for the days of dependable U.S. security assurances was futile. Since then, in the spectrum of Europe’s various postures for dealing with U.S. President Donald Trump, Merz’s lies somewhere in the middle—not quite as obsequious as NATO chief Mark Rutte, who described Trump as Europe’s “daddy,” nor as combative as French President Emmanuel Macron. “We do prefer respect to bullies,” Macron said in January at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, after Trump leaked a private text from the French leader.
Merz has factored in Trump’s peculiarities and appeased him with business deals. And in parallel, he has taken on the onerous task of rebuilding Germany’s dilapidated defense forces and enhancing cooperation among European allies. Merz has been committed to playing the hand that he was dealt as best he understands it. He has been trying to present Germany as the leader of a new Europe that can defend itself—but not just yet. His Trump policy hinges on keeping the U.S. president onboard and buying time until Germany and European allies are ready.
Shortly after securing election as the German chancellor last year, Friedrich Merz effectively declared the end of Pax Americana and said that indulging nostalgia for the days of dependable U.S. security assurances was futile. Since then, in the spectrum of Europe’s various postures for dealing with U.S. President Donald Trump, Merz’s lies somewhere in the middle—not quite as obsequious as NATO chief Mark Rutte, who described Trump as Europe’s “daddy,” nor as combative as French President Emmanuel Macron. “We do prefer respect to bullies,” Macron said in January at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, after Trump leaked a private text from the French leader.
Merz has factored in Trump’s peculiarities and appeased him with business deals. And in parallel, he has taken on the onerous task of rebuilding Germany’s dilapidated defense forces and enhancing cooperation among European allies. Merz has been committed to playing the hand that he was dealt as best he understands it. He has been trying to present Germany as the leader of a new Europe that can defend itself—but not just yet. His Trump policy hinges on keeping the U.S. president onboard and buying time until Germany and European allies are ready.
It is Merz’s show at the Munich Security Conference, but “don’t expect him to be a European Carney,” said........