Germany, “orphan” by us, shakes shock and raises work

The United States gave Germany its democracy and constitution. It supported the Germany’s reunification when France and Britain had their doubts. It has about 35,000 soldiers in Germany, dedicated to the defense of Europe.

But President Trump and his administration see now Europe as a opponentand NATO as a bottle and Russia as a friend. Vice President JD Vance and Elon Musk threw Support for a maximum right -wing party With the new Nazi members who want to undermine the German government and support Russia’s goals in Ukraine.

Germany, perhaps more than any other country in Europe, feels an orphan, orphans and even betrayed by its closest ally. But if the Germans are removed from the nest, they also started to respond, amid the search for a deep spirit and the question about the future – both and Europe.

The biggest indication that the shock gives way to work this week, as the German parliament voted Remove the long country of religion So that it can start rebuilding the army and the local infrastructure that has fallen into neglect.

It was a pioneering step, given the taboo around German militarization. However, who other Germans and Europeans know that they should take to adapt to the new hostility coming from Russia and the United States.

“I always had a complex relationship with the United States, which was far from perfection, but the United States has always been the city of the hill,” said Joshka Fischer, the former foreign minister, the leftist Radical in the days of its youth and now the Green Party.

He said: “Now, we have lost not only the power that protects us, but also the guiding star in the sky.”

It must arrest Europe In response, he said. The German leadership is necessary to do this, although many on the continent still insist that Europeans must, in the words of Mr. Fischer, “continue our close alliance with the United States, while they become as strong as possible to deter Russia.”

He, like many others, sees a period of weakness before Europe can better defend itself.

For Norbert Routin, a member of Parliament for Christian Democrats in the center, rupture with Washington is already deep, with urgent and long -term consequences. “This is the end of the European peace matter,” he said.

Mr. Röttgen said: “We have reached a conclusion that we must carry out European security on our own, it is an emergency, because we have a war in Europe.”

Europeans are in different stages of adaptation to what they fear is the loss of their American ally. “The initial shock has gone through the way to feel filling,” said Thomas Bagger, a senior German Foreign Ministry official.

He said, “It was a sudden feeling to be alone, and a little days.” “But now there is a slightly more confidence line. There is an understanding that Europe is now the rest of the West, and this is especially important for Germany.”

The feeling of treason by Washington may be stronger among the Germans who grew up in the first decades after World War II. “There is no other country in Europe that is the product of an enlightened American policy such as Germany,” said Mr. Baggger, born in 1965.

Germany has not after the war in the European Union for local prosperity and NATO for security, and almost a religious belief in the importance of an international society of common values ​​- and worked to strengthen it.

Mr. Bajgher said that confronting an American administration says that there is no international society, but only national countries that compete for prosperity and power “represents an existential challenge for Germany.”

At the same time, he agreed with Mr. Fischer that Germany should not separate with Washington or do anything to accelerate the rupture. “It will take time to replace the United States in defense and development aid,” said Mr. Bajgher. “We are still working for the best, but we no longer build our future on the assumption that things will continue as before.”

Wolfgang Eachger, a former German ambassador to the United States and Britain, has argued that Trump’s shock can be considered useful, as well, Germany is shaken by its long satisfaction.

If NATO becomes the largest and strongest response to President Vladimir F. Putin from Russia and him Ukraine invasionHe said that Mr. Trump’s runner, Mr. Vance and Mr. Musk of the European Union will not enhance the continent’s cohesion.

“If there is an opportunity for Europe to collect together over security, then this is now,” said Mr. Ishnger.

For Germany, there is a feeling that uncle Sam, who is reliable and generous “is now suffering from dementia and does not recognize us or our huge mutual interest,” said Mr. Ishnger. “I always thought that we have enough to hostile to the local America in this country without adding to it.”

He said Trump’s runner is “serving the interests of those who love to see more anti -America here, including our Russian friends.”

ready A German government to Spending huge sums Mr. Echinger said that the army’s modernization in Germany is a direct and appropriate response to Washington. “For the first time in several months, people can say that we did something.”

There is a quieter concern about the European power balance. Jean -Tko, a former German defense official and an analyst at the Eurasia Group, said that US participation in Europe was an important condition for Germany’s strength to reunite, and that concern may return.

“The issue of who was the big boy in Europe was answered by the United States,” he said. “But what happens when the United States retracts and the issue of European hegemony again? It will make European policy more complicated.”

“There is no real way to replace the United States, despite all the European talk,” he said.

Mr. Techau, also, is concerned about a “open window of weakness” in any transition, away from the United States’ integrated participation in European security.

Mr. Techau said: “If we receive a dirty deal on Ukraine, an escalation of the trade war and Putin in achieving or escalating the hybrid war in Germany, and Trump decides to withdraw some American forces, it will really start at dawn on the people who we are alone there, and in Europe as a non -nuclear power,” said Mr. Techau.

Of course, for some Germans, a break with Washington will also provide a feeling of liberation. There were always conservatives, like Mr. Vance, that America was very disturbing as a beacon of modernity; On the left, there was a desire to get out of the capitalist giant.

In the federal elections last month, more than 34 percent of the Germans voted for the parties with strong anti -American feelings. In reconnaissance This month, only 16 percent of Germans said they trust in the United States as an ally, compared to 85 percent for France and 78 percent for Britain. About 10 percent said they trust in Russia.

JD Bindenagel, the former American ambassador to Germany, said that the Germans like to discuss and delay the decisions, but they are active.

He said: “The Germans feel abandoned and betrayed, and they know that they are weak in terms of defense and they cannot stay away immediately.” “But when it explodes, it is difficult to re -establish it. They will not return.”