Trump is now dealing with an irate, tough Germany. Here’s why
The US president and the German chancellor have locked horns. Spain has shunned Washington. The Nato alliance is more fragile than it has ever been.
Western powers are determined to see off Russian military “hard” power; they are familiar with “soft power” operations to undermine democracies. But how to deal with the Kremlin’s relationship with Donald Trump is now an emergency.
Working out a response to internal frictions within Nato has become a conundrum, not only for leaders in the alliance but for the military officials who have to figure out how to keep the military machine operational.
A weakened Nato serves only the interests of the enemies and rivals of the West.
Top of the list of beneficiaries is Vladimir Putin, but China will enjoy the latest spats between Trump and Germany’s Friedrich Merz almost as much.
Merz, opting for a “truth to power” approach, has said the US-Israeli attack on Iran and subsequent ceasefire efforts had humiliated America.
“An entire nation is being humiliated by the Iranian leadership, especially by these so-called Revolutionary Guards. And so I hope that this ends as quickly as possible,” he said earlier this week.
Outraged by this criticism, Trump mooted pulling US troops out of Germany and, after Italy and Spain’s refusal to allow any of their territory to be used to attack Iran, suggested he might do the same in those two allied nations.
“Look, why shouldn’t I? Italy has not been of any help to us and Spain has been horrible,” he said.
As the diplomatic tit-for-tat continues, Nato is about to launch a multinational military exercise in Europe – Sword 26 – which will involve 5,000 US personnel alongside 10,000 allies training for operations from the Baltic to the Black Sea.
Nato is run by the Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Alexus G Grynkewich. In March, he told the US Senate’s armed services committee: “Key posture locations in Europe preserve the president’s military options in crisis and enable the rapid deployment and sustainment of combat-credible forces.”
In short, he means “we need Nato”.
And all members of the alliance, including Americans in uniform, are striving to hold it together so that it might survive the Trump administration.
The threats from Russia, both hybrid and old-fashioned military, are immediate, but an immediate response is only possible with American help.
