In comments made during the Sunday Meet the Press show, President Trump declared that the US has “a lot of foes,” singling out the European Union first and foremost among them. He went on to say that he has “a big problem” with Germany.
In talking of America’s foes, Trump said the EU is a foe, and Russia “is a foe in certain respect,” while China is “a foe economically.” He said his problems with the EU centered on “what they do to us in trade.”
Trump downplayed the significance of these declarations, saying it “doesn’t mean anything” to be a foe except to acknowledge that they “are competitive.” It is noteworthy, however, that last week he downplayed the idea of Russian President Vladimir Putin as an enemy, presenting him as a competitor instead.
European Council President Donald Tusk faulted Trump’s comments, insisting the US and EU “are best friends,” and claiming that anyone who said they were foes “is spreading fake news.”
Trump’s complaints about EU members didn’t stop there, however, saying “I have a big problem with Germany because Germany made a pipeline deal with Russia.” During the NATO summit, Trump accused Germany of being under Russian control. During Sunday’s comment, he said the Germans are “waving a white flag” in buying energy from Russia.
“He went on to say that he has “a big problem” with Germany.”
I would be realy interested in what exactly his beef is with Germany, it is not like they are threatening anyone nor are they in any way showing any signs of moving in the direction of an independent foreign policy, so what is the problem? Is Trump realy that worried about Germany receiving it’s Natural Gas directly from Russia instead of via Poland and the Ukraine?
It is all about profits and power and military might. Within NATO Germany spends one of the smallest fractions of its gdp on defense but because Germany’s gdp is by far the largest of the EU its military budget is one of the largest if not the largest of the EU. That pees off our president who has recently added 70 billion dollar to our own budget because he wants to do MOMGA = Make Our Military Great Again. The greatest of all nations in all of history ever. By far. Germany ought to do the same. Germany ought to help MOMGA.
It is the wet dream of a megalomaniac.
Chancellor Merkel is not a far out leftist but she is still a bulwark against far-rightist Trumpian organizations and politicians in Germany. She does not want that Germany gets involved in the dangerous geopolitical adventures of our president but prefers the traditional methods of resolving international disputes.
Add to this that the German gdp per person is larger than ours. Why? Because German products are often better and more reliable than our and Chinese crap. That is why, for example, our giants of agricultural machines have these machines made in Germany and shipped to us.
Yes, if Putin ordered the gas valves for Germany shut then Germany would be in deep economic trouble today. That is one of the reasons why Germany is way out front on renewable’s. Trump’s enmity will only accelerate that change.
If forced Germany can provide by itself plus buy in the EU most of what it needs for its armed forces. It has done so in the past. It knows how to do it. It will spread some contracts among other EU countries, notably France.
@Dieter, You produced a detailed and brilliant summation. The USA uses
the Military Congressional Industrial Complex as an economic and workfare
crutch. Apparently Germany needs no such social program.
Germany is trading more with China now than the USA. This occurred in early 2018. Many other top economies are following this trend to the east and China. USA is in decline, huge national debt(22 trillion), and a huge deficit of nearly 1 trillion dollars for 2018 budget.
I got it. Russia is a foe with which we should have “better relationships”. Germany and China are foes which we should fight.
It’s pretty simple for you guys that somehow can’t figure this out. China and Germany both run huge trade surpluses vs us. Merkel is also the head of the open borders brigade. The EU also likes to whine about Russia, but countries like Germany don’t act like it when it comes to their defense spending.
Meanwhile, Putin is also an alpha male, which Trump naturally has an affinity for. Russia also stands up for itself and has a strong military, the only one in the world that could annihilate us. These facts tell you it is a country that needs to be treated with respect, no matter if they offend SJW sensibilities.
Every country has open borders for extremely rich people and that includes our own country. You can legally buy a green card to live here.
The real head of an “open borders brigade for the rich” is the ruler of Monaco. If you are a super-wealthy athlete such as Boris Becker you are most welcome to cross that open border. No intense vetting needed. Probably no vetting needed at all.
Merkel’s “open border” has not hurt Germany’s economy. In fact it continues to be the largest and most powerful of the EU.
With regards to Germany’s military strength and needs prove that an increase to 2% of Germany’s gdp is necessary. Imagine that you are the Minister of Defense of Germany. What would you do with an estimated 60 billion dollars extra ANNUALLY in your budget if it goes up to 2% of current gdp and is likely to keep growing? Build more submarines? Buy more Abraham tanks or start increased production of your own excellent tank? Restart Messerschmidt, Dornier, and Junkers to build planes (Germany currently has about 260)? Build more German drones? Enlarge the armed forces from about 60,000 to one or two million? In a country where the unemployment rate hovers between 2 and 3 percent? Well, what would you do with the new riches?
And why?
Two people talking about each other, one says the other is a foe but it doesn’t mean anything, the other says they are the best of friends and the other is lying. So are they friends in fraud, or enemies in meaninglessness? Or is that fraudulent enemies and meaningless friends? I think I believe the liar, but which one has me stumped…
Two people talking about each other, one says the other is a foe but it doesn’t mean anything, the other says they are the best of friends and the other is lying. So are they friends in fraud, or enemies in meaninglessness? Or is that fraudulent enemies and meaningless friends? I think I believe the liar, but which one has me stumped…