European Politico-economics QA Mega-thread - Page 1398

The absolute priority from my point of view is that Europeans come to an understanding and stand united. At the moment, a large part of European politics is taking place without Germany. Of course, this is also related to the election campaign and the current transitional phase. However, I am in close contact with many prime ministers as well as heads of state and government of the European Union. For me, the absolute priority will be to strengthen Europe as quickly as possible so that we can gradually achieve true independence from the United States.

I would not have believed that I would ever have to say something like this on a television program, but after Donald Trump's statements last week, it is clear that the Americans—at least this part of the American government—are largely indifferent to Europe's fate. I am very curious to see how we approach the NATO summit at the end of June—whether we will still be able to speak of NATO in its current form or whether we will have to establish an independent European defense capability much sooner.

This is my absolute priority, and I have no illusions about what is happening in America. Just look at the recent days and how Elon Musk has intervened in the German election campaign—an unprecedented event. The interventions from Washington have been no less dramatic, drastic, and ultimately outrageous than those we have seen from Moscow. We are under massive pressure from both sides, which is why my absolute priority now is to establish unity in Europe.