Europe can no longer rely on the United States, according to Germany’s Foreign Minister Heiko Maas. “To maintain our partnership with the US, we must readjust it,” he said.
In an interview with Germany’s Funke newspaper group, he said: “The first clear consequence can only be that we need to align ourselves even more closely in Europe”.
As reported by Deutsche Welle (DW), Germany’s international broadcaster, Mass’ comments were made just hours ahead of a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, and came after Trump’s call last week for Nato allies to spend more on defence, and his reference to the European Union as a “foe” in trade.
