The Chairman of the German Social Democratic Party (SPD) and candidate for chancellor, Martin Schulz, stated in his guest commentary for the New York Times, titled „A Partnership Worth Saving“:
„If elected as German chancellor, I would, for example, oppose the American president’s demands for enormous arms increases in Germany and Europe.“
Schulz expressed his will to preserve the important relationship of Europe and the US which he deems vital, especially since US President Trump „hardly displays a deep respect for those values and traditions that made the United States and the trans-Atlantic partnership what they are“, Schulz wrote. He expects confrontations to come, but believes these could be „settled by argument and with mutual respect.“ Europe and Germany were to take a larger part of international responsibility. Instead of enlarging the German military and „unbridled rearmament“, Schulz suggests to „combat the causes of conflicts“, but although to „invest in better equipment and strive for more efficiency in military cooperation within both Europe and NATO.“
Further, Schulz wants to further reform the EU, calls for stronger investments in growth, and stronger efforts in climate policy and a joint „foreign and trade policies“ of the EU. This would help Europe to become a „self-confident partner of the United States.“
Despite all expected difference with the US government led by Trump, Schulz finally calls for „an alliance of the progressive and benevolent sections of society to shoulder our responsibility for the great legacy of the trans-Atlantic partnership and our common interest in cooperation in a global world.“
(This text by Martin Schulz was also published in German in the german newspaper „Die Welt“.)
Link (nytimes.com): https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/29/opinion/martin-schulz-trump-germany.html0202
