DW - Can Germany defend its strategic interests?

This is the question posed by Deutsche Welle, a public online newspaper that has always been very close to the positions of the Berlin government after the latest clashes between Germans and Americans. In Berlin they are openly hoping for a defeat of Trump in the November elections, and they are doing everything to facilitate it, knowing that if the current president were to be confirmed, the level of the clash would rise again and Berlin could not pursue its strategic interests. From Deutche Welle, a radio and television broadcaster and public online newspaper.

Can Germany have its own interests and pursue them? Washington's answer seems to be clear: only with the blessing of the American government! It threatens sanctions for European companies involved in the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, already 96 % complete. Let us remember that the pipeline will transport natural gas from Russia to Germany and from there to other EU countries at the bottom of the Baltic Sea, bypassing all other states.

Germany makes a living from exports. Its industry needs energy security. That is why industry and the federal government are supporting the construction of the pipeline. But Washington is also trying to channel into its policy all those reservations about this project that come from other countries - especially those from Poland and Ukraine.

An ambassador like an agitator

But none of this seems to have convinced the White House. President Trump is determined to stop this pipeline by any means possible. One of his agitators is Richard Grenell, the former US ambassador to Berlin. Meanwhile, the undiplomatic diplomat has made a significant contribution to bilateral relations: he resigned on 1 June and left Germany.

Another strong agitator against the pipeline is Ted Cruz, the far-right Republican senator from Texas. A man who some of his party comrades call "the incarnation of the devil". Others say if Cruz gets sick in Congress, no one would call the emergency room. Ted Cruz has been sponsored by the American fracking industry for years... who want to sell his gas in Europe. Their problem: American gas, which technically can only be produced at great cost, is more expensive than Russian gas. Washington - who would have thought of the former supporter of the free market economy? - prefers to evade the competition. It is much easier to wave the stick of sanctions. A policy Trump calls America first. But by doing so, he risks damaging relations with one of his most loyal allies.

Although I publicly praise Chancellor Merkel, both the media and government representatives continue to say that their talks are very tough. The Chancellor is probably of a different calibre than a Montenegrin head of government that the President of the United States simply pushes aside when he gets in the way or disturbs. With Merkel this is not possible. She is not intimidated. Which seems to bother Trump a lot.

Withdrawal of almost one-third of American soldiers...

And now he would like to punish you for your insubordination and withdraw almost 10,000 American soldiers from Germany by the end of the year. Most Germans don't even seem to be particularly affected, at least not until the country is exposed to an external military threat. After all, the noise and environmental pollution caused by American troops has been the subject of strong criticism for years. Only mayors and company leaders in the cities that house the American bases really fear a withdrawal of troops. But above all: the Americans are present in Germany because it is in their interest (all missions in Iraq and Afghanistan are controlled from there), and it is also in NATO's interest. If Trump were to withdraw an even larger contingent now, he would above all harm himself and drive the US further away from Europe.

The third one to enjoy will be China. Any conflict within the West reinforces Beijing's position vis-Ã -vis Washington. The way the Americans are behaving makes it difficult for them to count on the EU's help in their trade dispute with China. On the contrary. Berlin will take over the presidency of the EU Council in July. Chancellor Merkel continues to stick to her plan to hold a meeting of all EU heads of state and government with President Xi Jinping - even though the original date of mid-September has meanwhile been cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic. To hold such a meeting immediately before the US presidential elections would obviously have been a diplomatic provocation. Trump would not have been invited. And as an observer, he could only tweet.

Hoping for November 3rd

If its administration in November were to be rejected by the voters, relations between the United States and Germany would quickly return to normal. Democrat challenger Joe Biden simply understands that Germany has its own interests too, and can pursue them.