Merkel spokesman: Germany still seeking stronger US ties

Clarification comes after the German chancellor suggested that Europe can no longer entirely rely on America

German Chancellor Angela Merkel delivers a speech during an election campaign of her Christian Democratic Union, CDU, and the Christian Social Union, CSU, in Munich, southern Germany, Sunday, May 28, 2017. (Matthias Balk/dpa via AP)
German Chancellor Angela Merkel delivers a speech during an election campaign of her Christian Democratic Union, CDU, and the Christian Social Union, CSU, in Munich, southern Germany, Sunday, May 28, 2017. (Matthias Balk/dpa via AP)

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman said Monday that Berlin is still committed to strengthening trans-Atlantic relations a day after Merkel suggested Europe can no longer entirely rely on the US.

Merkel’s comments came after a Group of Seven summit at which the Europeans couldn’t reach agreement on climate change with US President Donald Trump.

“The times in which we can fully count on others are somewhat over, as I have experienced in the past few days,” she said.

While Germany and Europe would strive to remain on good terms with America and Britain, “we have to fight for our own destiny,” Merkel went on.

Special emphasis was needed on warm relations between Berlin and newly elected French President Emmanuel Macron, she said.

(Front row, LtoR) Portugal's Prime Minister Antonio Costa, Italy's Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, King Philippe of Belgium, Poland's President Andrzej Duda, Croatia's President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron and Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel attend the unveiling ceremony of the new headquarters of NATO in Evere, Brussels, on May 25, 2017. (AFP Photo/Pool/Christophe Licoppe)
(Front row, LtoR) Portugal’s Prime Minister Antonio Costa, Italy’s Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, King Philippe of Belgium, Poland’s President Andrzej Duda, Croatia’s President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron and Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel attend the unveiling ceremony of the new headquarters of NATO in Evere, Brussels, on May 25, 2017. (AFP Photo/Pool/Christophe Licoppe)

The chancellor had just returned from a G7 summitת which wound up Saturday without a deal between the US and the other six major advanced nations on upholding the 2015 Paris climate accords.

Merkel on Saturday labeled the result of the “six against one” discussion “very difficult, not to say very unsatisfactory.”

Merkel spokesman Steffen Seibert said Monday that Merkel’s comments stand for themselves but the German leader is “a convinced trans-Atlanticist.” He said German-US relations “are a strong pillar of our foreign and security policy, and Germany will continue working to strengthen these relations.”

Seibert added that “precisely because they are so important, it’s right to name differences honestly.”

Trump offered a more positive assessment on Twitter Sunday, writing: “Just returned from Europe. Trip was a great success for America. Hard work but big results!”

The US president had earlier tweeted that he would reveal whether or not the US would stick to the global emissions deal — which he pledged to jettison on the campaign trail — only next week.

US President Donald Trump meets with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Friday, March 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
US President Donald Trump meets with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Friday, March 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

On a previous leg of his first trip abroad as president, Trump had repeated past criticism of NATO allies for failing to meet the defensive alliance’s military spending commitment of two percent of GDP.

Observers noted that he neglected to publicly endorse the pact’s Article Five, which guarantees that member countries will aid the others they are attacked.

The omission was especially striking as he unveiled a memorial to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks against the US, the only time the mutual defense clause has been triggered.

Trump also reportedly described German trade practices as “bad, very bad,” in Brussels talks last week, complaining that Europe’s largest economy sells too many cars to the US.

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