In “Watershed Moment” Merkel Says Germany Can No Longer Rely On America

In "Watershed Moment" Merkel Says Germany Can No Longer Rely On America

FILE IMAGE

Originally appeared at ZeroHedge

One day after Donald Trump infuriated Angela Merkel and the rest of his G-7 peers, when the US president refused to endorse the Paris climate treaty, prompting the German chancellor to say  that “the whole discussion about climate has been difficult, or rather very unsatisfactory… here we have the situation that six members, or even seven if you want to add the EU, stand against one”, Germany’s prime minister made what many have dubbed, an “era-defining” statement.

Speaking at a CDU election rally in Munich, Merkel said that Europe must take its fate into its own hands” or as the AFP put it, “Merkel warns US, Britain no longer reliable partners.”

Faced with a western alliance divided by Brexit and Donald Trump’s presidency, Merkel said “die zeiten, in denen wir uns auf andere völlig verlassen konnten, sind ein Stück vorbei”, or loosely translated “the times in which we could completely depend on others are on the way out” and added that “I’ve experienced that in the last few days.”

Merkel then said that while Germany and Europe would strive to remain on good terms with America and Britain, “we have to fight for our own destiny” and she also said that special emphasis was needed on warm relations between Berlin and newly-elected French President Emmanuel Macron.

Her comments came after Trump said during the G-7 meeting he needed more time to decide if the US would continue backing the Paris climate deal, which has frustrated European diplomats. A subseqent report by Axios, Trump privately told multiple people, including EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, that “he plans to leave the Paris agreement on climate change” which will likely further infurate his European allies.

During his trip, Trump also echoed his past criticism of NATO allies for failing to meet the defensive alliance’s military spending commitment of two percent of GDP.

Observers noted that he neglected to publicly endorse the pact’s Article Five, which guarantees that member countries will aid the others they are attacked. The omission was especially striking as he unveiled a memorial to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks against the US, the only time the mutual defense clause has been triggered.

On Friday, Trump also described German trade practices as “bad, very bad,” in Brussels talks last week, complaining that Europe’s largest economy sells too many cars to the US.

Reactions to Merkel’s striking comment came pouring in from the likes of Edward Snowden who called her speech an “era-defining moment”:

… the president of the Council on Foreign Relations. Richard Haass, who called it a “watershed moment”

… and many others:

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
60 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Walther White

What she meant was that (((Germany))) or better the globalist jewish cabale cannot longer count to 100% on Trump and that they are in deep deep shit because they dont have an army,the populists are rising and the invaders are bombing.If Merkel is the last hope of ((globalism))) then we dont need to worry that much.She is weak.She is pathetic.She is disgusting.
And she is jewish.

John Whitehot

she isn’t jewish, she’s an east german demochristian.

dutchnational

He knows. He just does not care because that does not suit his stupid remarks.

Tudor Miron

She’s weak, pathetic and disgusting but she’s not the “last hope” of ((globalism)), she’s just another puppet. Some people think that ‘NWO” is something relatively modern when in fact this something very ancient (think ancient Egypt) :)

Carol Davidek-Waller

Too bad Angela didn’t think more about Germany’s welfare before she allowed it to be dragged into the US’s terrorist manufacturing, dirty wars and EU crippling economic sanctions against Russia.

Sergey kesic

You fail to understand that she does not hold enough power to do anything. Looking at her behavior lately i bet ya she would suck a dick just to end all ties with US and lift all sanctions on Russia. But it’s not up to her is it now?

Florian We

I am german and this is right. Merkel may tell this or that but is a whore of Washington any time. We do not have a european foreign policy – its all designed by american think-tanks and the Washington – cartel. Or do you think people here wish to work hard for the welfare of terrorists who rape their daughters and bully their sons ? Do you think we want war or provocations against Russia ? It is all to Washingtons wishes. Thank you, Uncle Sam!

Ronald

So is it not past the time that Germany made its own policy . Following America in funding Al Qaeda and its “moderate rebels” , is to be blind to the consequences of such evil action . For a civilized nation to resort to the use of terrorists for some “humanitarian ” reason , is beyond belief .

NeoLeo

Exactly… Angela is an obedient vassal, and Hillary, not Trump, is her master.

Carol Davidek-Waller

What I do understand is that you or I or Merkel can decide what kind of world we are going to live in if we really want to. No government or shadow organization can stand for long against a determined populace.

John Whitehot

Do you remember the scandal on the Wolkswagen cars fuel consumption chip that was a trick?

What do you think it was, if not a clear message from the cabal to Merkel? Something like “You are going to do what we say or you can forget selling cars on the US market”.

Many people think that sticking to rightful ethics is stupid and naive – but if WV did not trick its cars, and the german government let them do that, the cabal won’t have had a big blackmail weapon against Germany. And today probably, some millions of jobs won’t have been lost all across Europe because of sanctions.

Solomon Krupacek

You are going to do what we say or you can forget selling cars on the US market

no guy, those cars are made in usa and sold in half of world. VW gives work for 30 000 americans. if trump makes probem, he kick in ass the american citizens. otehrwise, trump has 3 mercedes ;)

economical war against germeny would be handled as against EU. and the EU is much bigger market then the american. america would lose more then europe.

Gary Sellars

well said

John Whitehot

no.

John Whitehot

you are wrong on all accounts.

“no guy, those cars are made in usa and sold in half of world. VW gives work for 30 000 americans. if trump makes probem, he kick in ass the american citizens. otehrwise, trump has 3 mercedes ;)”

– US manufacturers, which would basically have to cover increased demand, will hire those specialized workers. They won’t be hiring analphabet mexicans, but people who ‘s already trained. Moreover, cars built in the US are sold only in the US.

Trump and his benzos? I’m not even replying.

“economical war against germeny would be handled as against EU. and the EU is much bigger market then the american. america would lose more then europe”

You gotta be kidding. The US market is massively larger than EU one. And when it comes to cars it’s even larger.
Have you the slightest idea about how much you are paying for a liter of gasoline and how much an american pays?

And fyi – economical war by the US against the EU is already in full swing, if you haven’t noticed.

Solomon Krupacek

look, why do you write stupidities???

dutchnational

ÜS carmarket larger than massively larger than the EU’ ???

US carmarket 2016 including light commercial vehicles : 17.3 million.
EU carmarket in 2016 15,1 million cars and 1.9 million light commercial vehicles, so total 17.0 million. My conclusion is that the carmarket in the US is 2% larger than the total for the EU, ie more or less equal.

Source : open data internet.

Addendum : EU producers in the US florishing. US producers in the EU : Ford struggling, GM (Opel) being sold to PSA (french)

Solomon Krupacek

Trump and his benzos? I’m not even replying.

good done

https://gearheads.org/donald-trumps-most-unusual-car-collection/

John Whitehot

look, who gives a fuck about trumps benzos?

the subject was car markets, specifically wolksvagen and the US.

I doubt trump has ever stepped into a volkswagen anyway.

Solomon Krupacek

no, all german cars

John Whitehot

i’d buy a Camaro rather than any german car 10 times out of 10.

Solomon Krupacek

you are self-destructor. we know

dutchnational

The problem in the Trump economic world is that the man is, let me say it gently, an economic moron. He understands to some extent the commercial property market that made him rich, poor and then rich again.

He has no clue about integrated international supply chaines in manufacturing, high tech, weapons production (fi the F35 is a coproduction with parts supplied by many countries with just a very large assembly plant in Forth Worth), he has no clue that if you want to sell something to someone, you have to buy too, that other countries can also have a .(any country) first policy.

He has no clue, or does not care, about the tradelinks created over decades with many underlying treaties and vested interests in many countries.

One can only hope that his staff can keep him under control.

Daniel

I’m tired of those climate clowns. I wonder how much damage all their proxy wars are causing to the climate, but that doesn’t matter because they couldn’t care less about the climate just about taxing the small guys.

Julius Meinel

She should be burned on stake for high treason to the German nation, this fucking witch!! The whole political class in German deserves the same.

Sergey kesic

Glad this shit show is finally ending. US leached off the EU too much money and power since WW2 and it’s finally coming to an end. The next step would be reforming this quasi-union,making it more stable and centralizing it. Down with the American Hegemony.

brtanner

Edward Snowden is “Climate Believer?” Sad if true.

Nilo BP

He seems to be one of those cases who think that THIS opaque, uncontrollable bureaucracy is a terrible threat to liberty, but THAT other one is A-OK because it’s all about saving polar bears or starving Africans or some other cute victim group.

Unfortunately he, and most others, don’t yet understand that opaque bureaucracies are a package deal. That getting the government to “help” is a Faustian bargain; the cost will turn out to be much more than you thought, and the benefit much less.

Gary Sellars

sure, cuz the European glaciers are not retreating, nor is the Arctic sea-ice cover…

oh wait…

Russell A Wilson

You cannot do anthing that will prevetnt climate changer it is part of the natural cycles of nature. The US empire is also part of natural cycles and just so happens to be in the decline part of that cycle.

Nilo BP

There’s only one wee difference from past imperial declines. Name starts with NU and ends with KES. Cookie for whoever figures it out.

Russell A Wilson

True and they are most dangerous during the decline.

dutchnational

Partially correct. However, what humans do as in deforestation, burning fossil fuels, killing whole species etc , that will ultimately have an impact on or nature and climate.

Furthermore, an impopulair but valid stance, is that for christians there is the commandment to be a caretaker of the world. Most of us are not caretakers, we are just takers.

Wolfgang Wolf

Merkel is just a neocon puppet, now that she doesent receive any money from the clinton pack, she is fucked up like most of the other political idiots of the EU…. now she tries to oppose Trump, in a bid to save her ass. Merkel herself is to be said jewish.. so have a guess whats going on..
regarding all this climate-shit, its just a big scam about making money with technology, etc… now Trump threatens to blow up all this shit and endangers the EU clowns in their virtual greenhouse…. she is under pressure from german industry, to keep on going the “green way”, because there is no other way back… too many lies for a long time dont pay off!!! let this EU construction fuck up…

Nigel Maund

Another nutter in command of Germany! When will the Germans ever learn???? Merkel has done more to destroy German and European stability, civilisation and culture that any German since Kaiser Wilhelm’s misguided support for the corrupt Austro – Hungarian Empire over Serbia. There is no doubt she is the greatest traitor to Germany probably for 200 years.

Solomon Krupacek

you are wrong. unated europe = finished german sepermacy

Nigel Maund

I can’t understand your English as it seems to be gibberish! Clearly, you completely missed the point of my post in any case?

Solomon Krupacek

not understand, stupido?

then again

united europe = finished german supermacy (dominant position)

Nigel Maund

This is also total nonsense!!

Solomon Krupacek

you are helpless :D

Disgusted Citizen

She sounds like Hitler.

Solomon Krupacek

no. first time told something wise.

Nigel Maund

The EU has to be dissembled into Nation States and the borders properly policed. The time of utterly uncontrolled immigration has to come to an end soonest before Europe has a full blooded insurgency war waged across the entire continent

Joe Doe

America has been NOT reliable partner for long time, but Markel still kiss Obama behind. Therefore, Markel should resign or be fire

Joe Doe

I hope the free ride for america will end. The 2% og GDP Trump was asking for is nothing more than tax imposed by america on other nations to finance america’s wars

Tudor Miron

Yes, but this is just one of taxes US imposes on its vassal states. Germany is still under occupation (US army stationary on German territory) and so is the rest of Europe.

dutchnational

Then the US is a dutch vassal state as there is a (small) dutch training base in the US.

Thats why they say : Going Dutch (lol)

cortisol

She is just playing her part of the game as per order from Washington deep state: destabilize Trump admin and put “shock and fear” into simple American peoples hearts. “OMG why are now longer reliable, our “allies” are leaving us, IMPEACH HIM IMPEACH NOW”.

Gary Sellars

Bingo, give that man a prize.

Gary Sellars

LOL!!!

enriqueferro

Merkel’s statement is deceptive, she isn’t looking for a European independence, she is playing the Obama/Clinton card. In fact she met Obama just before the Trump meetings, and now she is bluffing in order to discredit again Trump and by the way win votes…

chris chuba

Poor Merkel, the EU has been betrayed by the lack of U.S. participation in a non-binding protocol. Hmm… now let’s compare this to the number of agreements the U.S. has broken in Syria during the ceasefires that have resulted in the fatalities of over 100 SAA members and prolonged a bloody civil war.

Get a clue you clueless twit.

Gary Sellars

She is a Washingtonian wh_re and is engaging in a show of poltiical kabuki as directed by her masters in the US Deep State establishment.

FFS this is the feckless creature whose cellphone was hacked by the NSA and did nothing but get up off her knees and straighten her knickers…

James Peterson

Long overdue.

John Mason

Merkel? She is part of the US deep state as are most of the other EU leaders. Merkel is playing with the EU since she knows that NATO is not welcomed and Germany wants to create its’ own defence force. US, UK and the EU are aligned and their target is Russia, if not then why impose more sanctions on Russia as was agreed at the G7 summit. Hope the German and EU citizens are a wake up on this ploy and vote that Merkel and her crowd out at the next elections.

Real Anti-Racist Action

Germany was conquered by the United Soviet States of America in 1945. Only a German revolution can free the natives from foreign occupation haha.

Gary Sellars

Ferkel Merkel is just another in a LONG line of sycophantic enablers for Pax Amerikana… it would however be a wonderful turnaround if she were to suddenly grow a spine and start working for the German (and European) people instead of being a cheap wh_re for Washington and the Bankster cartels who run it.

Nick

Dirty chameleon goose, Herbert Bush’s CIA-girl.
Not rely on USA? :-)) So, so, … Merkel against “the USA”. Good joke!..

NO! She just sucks the “cheney” of the NWO-Establishment in that Washington-Wall-Street-SWAMP.
What SHE MEANS is TRUMP & entourage and that Big-Mouth. SHE HAS HER ORDERS from the Rockefeller-NWO-mafia in the USA, that controls (thru affiliate people, the Clinton-Caln and the BUSH-Clan) the FBI and the CIA, too
In the moment Trump gets impeached.. hoppallaaa! Merkel will say that America is OK again (??! HOW’S THAT, OK? …:-) The old familiar CRAP plays it’s old game again, the One-World-Government and their f*king GLOBALIST jackals-agenda ;-)

Merkel is a piece of sh*t, she was STASI-Honnecker-Commies-activist and now she’s sold to the CIA.

[Not that the other maggot, Martin Schmidt from the FAKE-Social-Democrats, would be better ==>that Bilderberg-Group-agent that came back to Germany from the “New-Soviet-Union” in Bruxelles.]
ALL that bunch of garbage in the USA that mocks the garbage-group around Big-Mouth-Trump, is the “CLUB” where MERKEL works as CONCIERGE for the Bosses :-))
That’s all with “Merkel’s rebellion” :-))

And besides.. it looks good for the September-elections in Gremany, to play a little “De Gaulle”, “Duterte”, Orban…
TRUMP DID SO and won the elections ;-)

dutchnational

There is much uproar on what chancellor Merkel said.

Firstly, she said, as stated in the article, that one cannot fully rely on the US (and the UK). She did NOT say one cannot rely on the US.

Her remark was based upon the attitudes of Trump, when he implied that treaties can be discarded, that the US will be America first etc etc.

While the US has every right to take its own interests first, this explicitly means the interests of others are second, third or even lower.

As an economic union of some 500 million, among whom Germany counts for some 80 million, this implies that the EU also has to safeguard its interests and therefore cannot fully rely on the US.

As for the military component, Trump is correct in the sense that there has been an overreliance on US military and its budgets. In that senso too, Nato, or its European partners, must invest more in its military, its defense. This includes having its own weapon systems or, at the least, production facilities.

All in all, I think this is a storm in a glass of water.