GERMANY - Germany took over the rotating presidency of the European Union for six months from July 1. This is being accompanied by an aggressive campaign for militarism and a more independent German-European great power policy. Significantly, the official motto of the German government for the Council presidency is “Gemeinsam. Europa wieder stark machen” (“Together. Making Europe strong again”) — Berlin’s counterpart to Trump’s “Make America Great Again.”
In pursuing these interests, the German foreign minister above all identifies the US as the opponent. “Europe — and Germany too — must stop looking at the US like a rabbit at a snake,” writes Gabriel. “We must define our own interests and clarify what political, economic or even military means we want to use to maintain and develop our idea of living together on a united continent.”
Seventy-five years after the end of World War II, transatlantic relations are about to turn into open hostility. In an editorial headlined ‘Germany must want to lead’ the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ), warns that Germany must no longer be merely ‘the motor, moderator and bridge-builder’ in Europe, but must finally show ‘leadership’.