GERMANY - German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel has called for European unity in the face of growing global tensions. 'We need a European moment'. He also spoke of Germany being perturbed at Washington's foreign policy at the Munich Security Conference.
In what may be his last major speech as German foreign minister, Sigmar Gabriel on Saturday told delegates to the Munich Security Conference that the European Union needed to develop a joint foreign policy agenda to counter growing assertiveness from countries such as China and Russia.
At the same time, he stressed the continued importance of US-European cooperation, saying now was not the time for "just pursuing individual national interests." Gabriel's comments come amid widespread European concern that the US, under the leadership of President Donald Trump, is increasingly turning its back on traditional trans-Atlantic partnerships.
He said that particularly Germany, which had learnt so much from the US about democracy, multilateralism and free trade after World War II, was "perturbed" at the new course taken by Washington "because we no longer recognize our America." "As a German, I know that without the United States I would not have grown up in a peaceful and democratic situation" says Germany's Foreign Minister in an interview with Deutsche Welle. "We need a European moment”.