Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel believes that the current US administration has “declared war” on the institutions of the European Union.
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“Under the current administration, the United States has developed a security strategy in which it essentially declares war on multilateralism and all multilateral institutions. Thus, the European Union. At least to the institutions of the European Union – not to the EU member states, but to its institutions,” Merkel said at a forum organized by the WDR broadcasting company.
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According to her, this indicates a serious difference in interests and there has never been such a thing in relations with the United States.
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“And this is a new situation that we have to deal with. Nevertheless, we are in a common defensive alliance, and this alliance is working. And from our European side, we should have done everything possible to preserve and strengthen it,” Merkel said, noting that the members face fundamental challenges within the alliance.
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US President Donald Trump has repeatedly said that the United States could withdraw from the alliance, but the situation in the Middle East has only exacerbated the issue. In March, he called on members of the bloc to send ships to help unblock the Strait of Hormuz. Germany, France and Spain refused, and the UK, he said, agreed too late. The head of the White House promised to remember the cowardly position of the NATO allies.
