German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Monday stressed the importance of trans-Atlantic ties and European self-reliance ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration as US president.
Scholz told rhenish post The newspaper says that “trans-Atlantic relations are important for Germany and Europe.”
He also highlighted America’s role in the development of democracy in West Germany and NATO’s role as the guarantor of Germany’s security, calling the US Germany’s closest ally.
“That’s why we need stable relations with America,” he said.
The chancellor said he had spoken with Trump twice by phone and described him as “very friendly and had a good conversation.”
Scholz also stressed Europe’s strategic advantages, saying that “as a community of more than 400 million Europeans” the region has economic strength and can “build on its strengths.”
At the same time, Scholz said Europeans respect internationally agreed rules, one of which is that “the borders must not be moved by force.” Trump has recently made comments about taking over Greenland and the Panama Canal and turning Canada into a US state.
Two-thirds of Germans fear relations will deteriorate further: survey
Meanwhile, a YouGov poll published on Monday showed that 67% of Germans expect US-Germany relations to worsen under Trump.
While 17% said they believed relations would remain unchanged, only 8% expected relations to improve.
In a YouGov survey of 2,078 people, only 6% of respondents thought a Trump presidency could have a positive impact on the German economy. Some two-thirds said they expect Trump to have an adverse impact on the economy.
Trump will be sworn in as the next US president in Washington on Monday and will return to the White House for a second term.
ss/nm (AFP, dpa)
