EU Should 'Reflect' on Possible US Withdrawal
From 'Role of World Leader: Merkel Says
By Oleg Burunov
June 29, 2020 "Information
Clearing House" - Last week, US
President Donald Trump confirmed media reports
that he wants to pull 9,500 soldiers from
Germany to bring down the count to 25,000, after
accusing Berlin of being "delinquent" in its
defence spending.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has urged
European countries to think about a new reality
when it comes to America's global clout.
"We grew up in the certain knowledge that
the United States wanted to be a world
power. Should the US now wish to withdraw
from that role of its own free will, we
would have to reflect on that very deeply",
Merkel said in an interview with a group of
six European newspapers, including The
Guardian, on Friday.
Touching upon the American
troop presence in Germany, she said that it
helps to protect "not only Germany and the
European part of NATO but also the interests of
the United States of America".
The chancellor also singled out Berlin’s
military spending, saying that "we have to
spend more on defence" and that "we have
achieved considerable increases in recent
years, and we will continue on that path to
enhance our military capabilities".
On NATO, Merkel cited "compelling reasons to
remain committed to a transatlantic defence
community and our shared nuclear umbrella",
adding that "of course Europe needs to carry
more of the burden than during the Cold War".
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Merkel’s Stance on Brexit
Additionally, she mentioned Brexit and argued
that Britain will have to "live with the
consequences" of Prime Minister Boris Johnson
scrapping his predecessor Theresa May’s
blueprint to bolster a close economic
relationship with the EU after
the UK’s withdrawal from the bloc.
"We need to let go of the idea that it is
for us to define what Britain should want.
That is for Britain to define – and we, the
EU27, will respond appropriately", Merkel
said.
She warned that "if Britain does not want to
have rules on the environment and the labour
market or social standards that compare with
those of the EU, our relations will be less
close".
According to the chancellor, "that will mean
it [the UK] does not want standards to go on
developing along parallel lines".
Merkel Calls for 'Constructive Dialogue With
Russia'
Separately, she underscored the need "to keep
engaging in constructive dialogue with Russia",
saying that there are "good reasons for it".
"In countries like Syria and Libya,
countries in Europe’s immediate
neighbourhood, Russia’s strategic influence
is great. I will therefore continue to
strive for cooperation", Merkel pointed out.
US Troop Cut in Germany
The interview came after US President Donald
Trump last week confirmed media reports about
American troop reductions in Germany, also
accusing the country of being "delinquent in
their payments to NATO" and claiming that Berlin
owes the alliance billions of dollars.
At present, 34,500 US troops are stationed in
Germany, along with 17,000 US civilians and 12,000
German citizens who work at local military bases.