US Conservative Leonard Leo : I'm not a big Fan of the EU

Since Donald Trump President of the United States, has won the Federalist Society, an Association of Conservative and Libertarian, in Washington some influence on the Thinking and Actions of American policy. Your Deputy Chairman, the lawyer, Leonard Leo, discussed recently in Berlin with the "Transatlantic Strategy Group", a new, from the German society for Foreign policy (DGAP), a group founded by politicians, journalists, consultants, Ministry staff and representatives of the company, on a quarterly basis with the US representatives on the TRANS-Atlantic relations will be discussed.

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Leonard Leo is not sure also in Washington, a household name - and yet the lawyer has a significant impact. He advises the U.S. President on legal matters – specifically, he sought to trump's candidates for the Supreme Court. On the list also Brett Kavanaugh, a member of the Federalist Society, against the several women's allegations of abuse are raised, but it was confirmed nonetheless. Other law he is not talking issues with the President said Leo, and yet it is worth its opinions to listen to, clarify the legal philosophy of conservative circles in the United States, which is also in the foreign policy of Donald Trump visible.

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The discussion between Leo and the DGAP Strategy Group was confidential, on the edge of the conversation, however, Leo made his views on transatlantic relations and foreign policy are also public: "What we need today in the transatlantic relations, is a politics of realism," he said. Count, that the Europeans recognise how strong the American policy was still determined by the Religion. In fact, the American Evangelicals and abortion opponents in the United States are an important group in the coalition that brought Trump to Power. Leo, himself a Catholic, played an important hinge function: Its selection of constitutional judges has served to reinforce this group. Are you hoping for by the conservative judge appointments to the constitutional court under Donald Trump is a socio-political turning – after all, it was the US Constitution the court, that since the 70s the right of women to have an abortion has been established, as only in 2015, the marriage for All.

national sovereignty, Leo, is for the United States, a question of Identity

it is also Interesting to Leo's idea of state sovereignty with a view on American foreign policy. When he talks about sovereignty, he quotes Alexis de Tocqueville, that French diplomats that the United States at the beginning of the 19th century. Century, travelled, and in 1835 in "Democracy in America" sought to characterize the still young American Nation, politically and culturally. Tocqueville declared the sovereignty of the people to be the Central characteristic of the United States. For Leo, the sovereignty question is to the inside and outside until today, no power, but a question of national identity. Sovereignty was "not a question of making profit, but something that tells us who we are," said Leo.

One could read it so: By a concept of Sovereignty from the 19th century. Century convene (the Declaration of Independence of 1776 is to Tocqueville's time, still relatively young), Leo Trumps foreign policy in the vicinity of the American struggle for independence from colonial rule and anchored it deep in American history and in American self-understanding.

For Trumps foreign policy is a (not new, but re-animatable) historical primer of the scepticism of multilateral organisations, including the EU. "I'm not a big Fan of the EU," says Leo in an interview on the sidelines of the DGAP's discussion. Nevertheless, he holds a common international policy is possible, namely there, where there are matching interests – and which he sees between the United States and Europe. Specifically, it is called as the common interests of Europeans and Americans, the Chinese dominance in Africa, trade barriers, and to build an open 5G network, securing the energy supply and the fight for global human rights, and freedom of religion.

Leo brings tips for dealing with Donald Trump

Leonard Leo took advantage of the opportunity to advertise for the Republican party as a reliable Partner in transatlantic relations. From his point of view, the Europeans are too one-sided to the Democrats, and believed wrongly, the convergence of interests between Europeans and Democrats was greater than between Europeans and Republicans. Especially in the security and trade policy, it should be Vice versa, so Leo. "The Democrats traditionally see protectionist party."

And finally, he still has a couple of references for direct talks with Donald Trump: "The worst thing you can do is make accusations. You ask him something. You engage him in conversation. You ask him: How can we work together?“

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Daniela Schwarzer, Director of the DGAP, said after the discussion with Leo: "Not everyone in the room has fallen at the kick-off event for all. But this is exactly the kind of discussion we need to lead.“