Germany is still reeling from the shock we witnessed in the White House. The Trump-Zelensky scandal has shown the most economically powerful country in Europe that the geopolitical situation has changed fundamentally.
Latest, leading politicians in Germany are now frantically trying to get used to the new situation. This means, above all, positioning themselves more clearly than before, especially in relation to the US and Russia. And arm themselves.
Mazzala: “The US is no longer reliable in the long term“
The renowned political scientist Carlo Mazzala suggests that the US “will not be a reliable partner in terms of values and interests“ of Europe in the foreseeable future. The professor at the Bundeswehr University in Munich told Deutschlandfunk that “in one case or another, the Americans will certainly have more common interests with us than with others. And an independent and sovereign Europe will become a more attractive partner for the United States,“ he is confident.
The background to this is the scandal that unfolded in the White House in Washington last Friday, when US President Donald Trump forced himself on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in front of television cameras and withdrew his solidarity with Ukraine.
Major: “The United States is becoming a security risk for Europe“
What does this mean for Germany? Claudia Mayor of the Berlin-based “Science and Politics“Foundation“ told Deutschlandfunk: “We have to admit that our most important ally is no longer behaving like an ally, but is becoming a security risk for Europe“.
And all this is happening at a time when Germany is forming a new government after the parliamentary elections on February 23, most likely headed by the leader of the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) Friedrich Merz - a politician who has never held a responsible public office before. And right now Germany is in a political timelessness.
Against this backdrop, the leader of the German Social Democrats, Lars Klingbeil, warned that the next German government bears a great responsibility for European politics. For Klingbeil, the scandal in the Oval Office is a “wake-up call”. In Berlin, his name is being touted as a possible next German foreign minister.
400 billion euros for the Bundeswehr?
Politically, Berlin has already woken up. Suddenly, measures that until recently seemed completely unthinkable are being openly discussed: There is talk of huge new programs worth many billions. So that the Bundeswehr can defend the country alone - without the US and in cooperation with other European countries.
Aid for Ukraine alone in its fight against the aggressor Russia could absorb up to 400 billion euros after the US halts aid to Kiev. Just a week ago, an amount of around 200 billion euros was still being mentioned. But whatever the final amount, Germany will not be able to finance it from its current budget, and will have to take on new debt and create an “emergency financial fund“.
A decision is only possible within the current parliament
However, this is only realistic with the current composition of the Bundestag, since it has a 2/3 majority, which would be necessary for a possible change to the constitution and the creation of the emergency fund.
Friedrich Merz wants to have the new government ready by Easter. Merz is also expected to hold a meeting with the current Chancellor Scholz, at which the most important issue at the moment will be discussed - how the country can guarantee its own security - something for which the United States has always had the main responsibility in the last decades since the end of World War II.