Donald
Trump is making Europe think again, especially about European defense.
Some European politicians are so concerned that the U.S. president-elect
may scale back American military commitments in Europe that they are
making radical proposals.
The foreign policy spokesperson for German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats, Roderich Kiesewetter,
told Reuters on November 16, “The U.S. nuclear shield and nuclear
security guarantees are imperative for Europe. . . . If the United
States no longer wants to provide this guarantee, Europe still needs
nuclear protection for deterrent purposes.” He added that Germany could
play an important role in convincing nuclear powers France and Britain
to provide security guarantees for all of Europe.
Whether a solo run or a trial balloon, this
is an astonishing public statement by a senior German lawmaker from the
traditionally transatlanticist chancellor’s party. For one thing, it is
not necessarily wise to openly say such things so soon after the U.S.
presidential election, as it could strengthen the case of those in the
new administration who favor reducing U.S. military support for Europe.
For another, most Germans want to ban nuclear weapons—a
whopping 93 percent according to one recent poll. Many members of the
governing coalition partner, the Social Democrats, strongly support
nuclear disarmament. http://carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurope/?fa=66199&mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiTWpRMU5UUXlZMkpsWlRobSIsInQiOiJ3aFlNOFZ0XC83TEpFT3VOTjBKS1ZSMldwXC9GM0hmazUxYWlwWnpMUEI3NlR3OFwvaFIyNkRobEpaNUJQTWpYeDM0TTBcLzdxeWVGcDd5RXN6V3U4N01Ba3FRUFM0ZWFXWmJock15Q0RPOEhzZ2M9In0%3D
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