- Germany
rejects US strategy’s free speech advice. - Wadephul:
No need for external democratic lectures. - Trump
document slams weak European allies harshly.
According to Wadephul, Berlin didn’t require outside
lectures on democratic society organization or freedom of expression.The
“America First” philosophy of US President Donald Trump is described
in the US Constitution.It includes harsh criticism of longstanding partners in
Europe and marks a move away from Washington’s conventional global leadership
toward a greater focus on Latin America and migration.
According to the publication, the US would back political
parties and players who disagree with EU-led policy stances, including
immigration.Speaking in Berlin with Icelandic Foreign Minister Thorgerdur
Katrin Gunnarsdottir, Wadephul stated that Germany’s constitutional order
governs such situations.The United States is and will continue to be
“our most
important ally in the [NATO] alliance,”
according to Wadephul. However, the focus of this
partnership is on security policy matters.
“We see ourselves as being able to discuss and
debate these matters entirely on our own in the future, and do not need outside
advice,”
Wadephul said.
According to the minister, the alliance’s jurisdiction over
Germany did not include matters pertaining to free speech or the establishment
of free societies.He did, however, state that he will now “analyze the new
US security strategy in detail.”Since Trump’s return to the White House,
tensions between Washington and Europe have increased due to disagreements over
free speech and immigration.
A top AfD politician visited the White House in September as
part of the US administration’s efforts to strengthen connections with the
far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).What specific claims in the US National
Security Strategy prompted Foreign Minister Wadephul’s strongest rebuttal?Foreign
Minister Johann Wadephul’s strongest disproof targeted the US National Security
Strategy’s claims that Europe,
including Germany, censors free speech, suppresses political
opposition, and undermines popular processes to block peace efforts in
Ukraine. The document accuses EU programs of stifling free expression,
repressing dissent, and administering migration that risks” civilizational
erasure” alongside low birthrates and profitable recession, portraying
internal decay as Europe’s topmost trouble over Russia or China.
It further alleges European governments ignore public
solicitations for Ukraine peace, lessen the republic, and erode sovereignty,
calling for US support of” resistance” via nationalistic
parties. Wadephul dismissed these as unwarranted” outside
advice,” defending Germany’s indigenous free speech protections and press
freedom while rejecting US lectures on internal affairs despite NATO security
ties.
