Germany’s foreign minister said Friday the country does not need ‘outside advice’ after US president Donald Trump’s administration released a new strategy document that strongly criticised allies in Europe.
The national security paper, meant to flesh out Trump’s ‘America First’ worldview, said the United States will shift from its historic global role towards increasing dominance in Latin America and fighting migration.
It also had harsh criticism for traditional US allies in Europe, saying that Washington will champion opponents to European Union-led values including on immigration.
Asked about the strategy, German foreign minister Johann Wadephul stressed that the ‘United States is and will remain our most important ally in the alliance. This alliance, however, is focused on addressing security policy issues.’
‘I believe questions of freedom of expression or the organisation of our free societies do not belong [in the strategy], in any case at least when it comes to Germany,’ added Wadephul, a member of Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s centre-right CDU party.
‘We see ourselves as being able to discuss and debate these matters entirely on our own in the future, and do not need outside advice.’
Traditionally strong ties between the United States and Europe have frayed since Trump’s return to the White House, with his administration levelling criticism at the continent on subjects ranging from migration to freedom of expression.
The Trump administration has also fostered closer ties with Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany, with a senior lawmaker from the party visiting the White House in September.
Germany’s mainstream parties have ruled out working with the AfD, which came second in February elections.
The AfD has been designated by the country’s domestic intelligence service as ‘far-right extremist’, a label it is challenging in court.