German Chancellor Angela Merkel told a crowd on Sunday that Europe can no longer on foreign partners. The speech took place in southern Germany, and the remarks were aimed at the United States.
Merkel declared that a new chapter in U.S.-European relations after contentious meetings with President Trump last week, saying that Europe "really must take fate into our own hands." and that the days when Europe could rely on others was "over to a certain extent. This is what I have experienced in the last few days."
This is quite a change from the political rhetoric. And while the most famous special relation between two nations is the U.S. and the UK, the German-U.S. relationships has arguably more important. NATO's main purpose was to ensure Germany would never again pose an international threat to peace after WWI and WWII. Germany now also offers a booming industrial economy, one of the strongest in the world.
If European nations, like Germany, start isolating themselves from the United States, what will that mean for our future? Will it have an impact on our economy? Can we expect the same amount of support in times of strife? Do you think this could eventually lead to any armed conflict?
Link: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2017/05/28/thanks-to-trump-germany-says-it-cant-rely-on-america-what-does-that-mean/?utm_term=.7946dca2db4f
I don't think it will lead to any armed conflict but I believe we can start to see economic ramifications if more European nations starts isolating themselves.
ReplyDeleteConsidering the nature of globalization and its defining characteristic of codependency on any given side (no longer healthy/interdependent), I doubt it will have serious economic repercussions. Although, I think it is good that Merkel is pointing this out because it is important to be careful and look out for themselves. There is nothing normal about any of this, and countries should not let administrations of the US, Britain, etc. off easy. Many people in power need an ego check, because their arrogance combined with a lot of stupidity is not going to do anyone any good.
ReplyDeleteI am feeling particularly apathetic today, and I think us humans have walked ourselves into a disaster, and we probably should just go extinct. But a select group of baby boomers have gotten us into this shit, and I hope we as a generation fight back.
I agree with Kriti entirely
ReplyDeleteI agree with Daichi and Kriti in saying that economies are too interdependent for isolation to be a viable option without serious economic consequences. I guess it just depends on what extent Germany would distance itself from the US, and how willing the rest of the EU is to sign on to the idea.
ReplyDeleteI agree. In a world that is becoming increasingly globalized, isolating oneself from other countries is counter-productive.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Shanice. I believe leaders are smarter than the portrayal of their rhetoric. Economies are too interdependent and there are many benefits they would lose if they begin to distance themselves.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Kriti on this one
ReplyDeleteThe impact that Germany has on our imports is very key. According to OEC (http://atlas.media.mit.edu/en/profile/country/deu/), the US is the number destination for German exports and if they begin to isolate themselves, it could hurt our economy. I don't think any armed conflict will come out of this because that would result in other countries isolating themselves from the US.
ReplyDeleteJudging by the fallout of the Paris withdrawl, I think the United States has more to worry about from this than Germany. The locus of power is starting to shift.
ReplyDelete