Updated June 29, 2020, 4:57 p.m.
Markus Söder wants to improve the cooled-down relationship with the USA and has therefore spoken out with sharp words that the German-American friendship should be revived. Bavaria’s prime minister also clearly differentiated himself from Trump and criticized, among other things, the planned withdrawal of US troops from Germany.
Bavaria Prime minister Markus Söder has delineated itself from US President Donald Trump and has called for a revival of German-American friendship.
“We very much hope that there will be an improvement in style and content in the next few months: fewer surprises, more predictability. More common rather than lonely,” said the CSU boss on Monday at the reopening of the converted America House in Munich. He particularly emphasized: “Respect is not a one-way street.”
Söder called the relationship with the USA an “emotional friendship”. There is a close exchange in business and science and between the armed forces. However, the relationship must be stabilized again.
Söder: friendship with the USA “somewhat cooled”
The friendship was “somewhat cooled” and had to be revived. “It’s true: old love doesn’t rust. But we can do a little bit more to make it a new honeymoon again.” It would take a while, he admitted. “But we’re ready for it.”
Söder criticized, among other things – without Trump to be mentioned by name – from the announced partial withdrawal of troops Germany, which Trump had presented as a punishment for what he considered to be insufficient German defense spending.
A withdrawal of parts of the 35,000 US soldiers stationed in Germany could Significant economic consequences at the station locations entail.
NATO is a community of values and not a service contract, said Söder. And of course it is permissible to criticize something and wish for more. But that should happen in such a friendly way, “that you don’t get the impression that there is more distance instead of proximity in the foreground”.
For Bavaria, Söder hopes that “as few soldiers as possible will be withdrawn”. The US soldiers should continue to feel comfortable here.
Bavaria finances cultural work at the America House
The reason for the appointment was the reopening of the America House in Munich. It provides information on current topics in Canada and the USA in the form of lectures, discussions and exhibitions in English. The building had been renovated in the past four years.
The US government had already withdrawn from financing the house in 1997. The Free State is now funding the cultural work of the America House. Bavaria also paid for the general renovation of the building from the 1950s – with 27 million euros. (dpa / lh)
A few days before the election in Poland, President Duda is received at the White House. US President Trump once again makes it clear that he wants to punish Berlin and reduce the number of US soldiers in Germany. And Trump says where part of the troops should go.
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