Outgoing US Envoy Underscores Split Between US, German Interests

German MP: US envoy issues threats like he's representing a hostile power

Outgoing US Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenel stands as an unusually polarizing figure in US-German relations. Long a strong diplomatic post, some Germans are glad to be rid of Grenel, who is moving on to become US Director of National Intelligence.

German MP Andreas Nick said that while most US Ambassadors left Germany as trusted friends, Grenel “leaves issuing threats as if he were representing a hostile power.” That’s a fair critique, as Grenel is often echoing Trump’s anger at Europe.

Grenel fired back that he was just stating American policy, which is also true. This, however, seems to reflect a mounting disconnect between the two nations, with the US less and less concerned with maintaining a friendly tone.

Grenel has kept the Trump tone constant in Europe, lashing out at criticism about, say, the US withdrawing from Open Skies by saying they should stop criticizing America and start condemning Russia.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.