Trump and Macron hassle – Merkel remains optimistic

The celebration of Nato in great Britain's capital began with a slugfest between Donald Trump and the French head of state Emmanuel Macron . The US President went to Macron because of the "brain death"diagnosis on Tuesday sharply – but the French President, contra was.

Despite the dispute, German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed "relatively optimistic". After all, 29 Alliance partners agreed in advance on a "London Declaration". In it they reaffirm the core of Nato: mutual assistance.

In the Declaration mentioned, according to the news Agency, DPA, also for the first Time explicitly China as a possible new threat: "We recognize that the growing influence of the international policies of China represent both opportunities and challenges that we must tackle as an Alliance together." The paper saves at the same time, with self-praise and calls Nato the "strongest and most successful Alliance in history".

"I think we have a good explanation for this Meeting," said German Chancellor Angela Merkel and founded their Confidence. However, she acknowledged differences within the Alliance. The man had to say. "We also need to discuss the future of Nato, and the strategic similarities", said Merkel.

reception at the Queen

The summit, to 70. Birthday of Nato, officially began on Tuesday evening with a reception at the Queen Elizabeth II, before on Wednesday, a working session follows. But Trump and Macron fought already during the day is open to dispute.

That Macron Nato certified the "brain death", calling the U.S. President is offensive, dangerous and disrespectful. In the past, Trump had called the Alliance itself already as "obsolete" and with a withdrawal of the United States threatened. Now, however, he presented himself surprisingly as a "Fan" of Nato said: "Nato is a great goal." And no one need Nato more than France.

group image with your Mäjestät: Queen Elizabeth II gave an official reception. (AP/Keystone/Yui Mok/3. December 2019)

In a joint appearance with Macron a few hours later mässigte Trump his tone. But there is a Macron went on the Offensive. With a view to its "brain death"diagnosis, he said: "My Remarks have caused reactions. But I stand by it."

criticism of Turkey

The French President also criticized Turkey, the former in Northern Syria against Kurdish militias that had previously fought on the side of the Western partners against the terrorist organization Islamic state. "This is a Problem, it is a strategic Problem," said Macron. He demanded that Turkey, in addition, a statement on the controversial purchase of a Russian missile defense system.

in the Afternoon Macron and Merkel met with the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to talk about Syria. Merkel also stressed here the positive approach, and said that they wanted to remain in the conversation. All the time, it was the continuation of the fight against the IS militia. Together, we supported the efforts to find a political solution in Syria and the establishment of a constitutional Convention.

As in previous Nato summits Trump also took this time to Germany due to lower military spending to be targeted and threatened vaguely with possible reactions in the trade. However, he said less aggressively than in the past.

He said the United States paid for the 4.0 to 4.3 percent of gross domestic product on defence, while Germany spend only 1.0 to 1.2 percent. "That's not fair". According to the official Nato statistics, the US were spending, although lower and the German higher, with 1.38 per cent of GDP in Germany is, however, far from the Nato target of two percent away.

Large growth

The Nato had reported before the summit of the big increases in defence expenditure, so as to avert the danger of a Commotion. Accordingly, the expenditure of the European Nato will amount States and Canada by the beginning of 2016 until the end of 2020, to 130 billion US dollars. So Trump was visibly satisfied and wrote this to his own use.

Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg played the differences in the Alliance and sought rhetorically to be a middle ground: The Nato was already "agile and active", but: "Nato must change." At the same time, he drew a similar way to the "London Declaration" – the attention to possible new dangers from the outside. He referred to the high defense of China's expenditure.

Many Germans see the position of the Nato, but similar to Macron, the calls for more European autonomy in the defence. The Europeans should protect yourself in the future without the help of the United States prior to the attacks, said 55 percent of respondents in a YouGov survey, commissioned by DPA. (fal/sda)

Created: 03.12.2019, 22:54 PM