Germany's Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen on Friday warned Washington against hurting European cohesion and seeking a rapprochement with Russia behind the backs of its allies. Europe has been rattled by US President Donald Trump's praise for Britain's decision to quit the EU, his criticism of Nato, and his softer approach towards Russia.
"Our American friends know well that your tone on Europe and Nato has a direct impact on the cohesion of our continent," the German minister told the Munich Security Conference. "A stable European Union is also in America's interest, as is a strong and unified Nato," she said. She also cautioned the US against taking transatlantic ties for granted, pointing out that it should not put its allies and Russia on the same footing.
"There cannot be a policy of equi-distance to allies and to those who openly question our values, our borders and international law," she said. While pursuing a reliable relationship with Russia as a whole, allied nations must not be "going above partners' heads in bilateral negotiations," she added. Since taking office Trump has said he fully backs Nato, but he spoke with disdain about the alliance while campaigning for election, calling it "obsolete."
He has repeatedly praised Putin and called for better co-operation with Russia, including in the fight against the Islamic State group in Syria. Von der Leyen also took aim at Trump's move to ban migrants from majority-Muslim nations. Although the initial decree to block people from seven mainly Muslim nations from entering the United States was scrapped as it fell foul of the law, Trump has said he is considering drafting a new order. "We should be careful that this fight (against terror) does not become a front against Islam and Muslims," said von der Leyen. "Otherwise we run the risk of digging ourselves into a deeper grave in which violence and terror only grow further. Rather, it is right to seek partnership with like-minded Muslim and Arab nations," she said.
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