German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel unleashed a volley of criticism against US President Donald Trump, slamming his “shortsighted” policies that have “weakened the West” and hurt European interests.
The sharp words from Gabriel came after Trump concluded his first official tour abroad which took him to Saudi Arabia, Israel, Brussels and then Italy for a G7 summit, the German website Local.de reported.
They also followed Chancellor Angela Merkel’s warning on Sunday that the US and Britain may no longer be reliable partners.
Germany’s exasperation was laid bare after the G7 summit that wrapped up on Saturday with the US refusing to sign up to upholding the 2015 Paris climate accord.
Days earlier, in Saudi Arabia, Trump had presided over the signing of the single largest US arms deal in American history, worth $110 billion over the next decade and including ships, tanks and anti-missile systems.
Gabriel said on Monday that “anyone who accelerates climate change by weakening environmental protection, who sells more weapons in conflict zones and who does not want to politically resolve religious conflicts is putting peace in Europe at risk”.
“The shortsighted policies of the American government stand against the interests of the European Union,” he said.
“The West has become smaller; at least it has become weaker. We Europeans must fight for more climate protection, fewer weapons and against religious (fanaticism), otherwise the Middle East and Africa will be further destabilized.”
Merkel had called the climate talks “very unsatisfactory” due to the continued uncertainty about Trump’s stance.
Gabriel also spoke of “a loss of the United States as an important nation” and said that the unsuccessful G7 talks would have a bigger impact.
The relationship between Merkel and Trump contrasts with the warm ties between her and former US president, Barack Obama-who last week travelled to Berlin to attend a key Protestant conference.
Obama’s participation in a forum with Merkel last Thursday came on the eve of her meeting with Trump in Italy during the G7 summit.
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