#Merkel: ‘Europe must take its fate into its own hands’

German Chancellor Angela Merkel says the days when Europe could completely depend on others are over. Merkel said that this was what she had experienced over the past few days, referring to the NATO and G7 Summits, writes Catherine Feore.

Trumps first foreign trip and participation at two high-level summits provided the back-drop to the Chancellor’s speech (29 May). Merkel said that it was for Europeans to take their fate into their own hands. The speech was well received by the CDU’s more conservative sister party the Christian Social Union (CSU).

It is telling of how the world has changed when a German Chancellor can make this sort of open call for stronger European defence co-operation without inspiring fear or suspicion. It is also a sign of how Trumps 'America First' administration sceptical of European integration and Brexit are galvanizing rather than weakening Europe's resolve.

The very public upbraiding of NATO allies by the 45^th President of the United States of America over their contribution to NATO and his failure to mention the Article 5 commitment to mutual defence, even though the event was held in front of a memorial to Article 5 and 9/11 at the new NATO headquarters, was considered disrespectful to NATO allies. Article 5 has only been invoked on one occasion to date, it was in support of the US following the 9/11 attack.

In 2014, NATO members already made a commitment to reaching the 2% target for defence spending. Eight countries have met this target and the EU has recently improved co-operation and funding available for joint-capacity building.

The public scolding of European allies was in sharp contrast to Trump’s praise of his Saudi hosts, a country he had previously accused of sponsoring terrorism.

Today, Merkel’s spokesperson said that she believes strongly in the trans-Atlantic partnership:

After #Merkel suggested Europe can no longer entirely rely on #US, her spokesman says comments stand for themselves and adds... pic.twitter.com/JEm9qZPnsU

— DW | Politics (@dw_politics) May 29, 2017

Leader of the Social Democratic Party and former-president of the European Parliament Martin Schulz described Trump’s behaviour as autocratic and humiliating for the Chancellor.

Only in Germany: Even in the middle of an election campaign #Merkel's SPD rival @MartinSchulz shows outrage at #Trump's treatment of her pic.twitter.com/95P5kXheZ5

— DW | Politics (@dw_politics) May 29, 2017

We are in the run up to German national elections in the autumn, so both parties will be trying to reap political capital. Nevertheless, it is interesting that being strong on Europe and willing to acknowledge that Europe needs to build independent capacity is seen as a vote winner.

A normally reticent European Commission that doesn’t comment on comments (except when it does), outlined that the EU also sees a need to take a stronger role in defence while remaining open to the world and ready to engage. 

On the morning (25 May) just before the NATO summit the Chancellor welcomed former-President Obama to Berlin  at an event to mark 500 years since The Reformation. It was the first international event supported by the Obama Foundation which will focus on engaging young people. The warm welcome and huge crowds were a reminder of happier EU-US relations.

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