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Angela Merkel Laments Loss of Reliable Global Alliances Merkel, After G-7 Meeting, Laments Decline of Global Alliances
(about 2 hours later)
COLOGNE, Germany — In the aftermath of a contentious Group of 7 meeting in Taormina, Sicily, where leaders failed to persuade President Trump to back the Paris climate accord, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany said on Sunday that tried and tested global alliances were no longer as reliable as they once were, citing her experience “in recent days.”COLOGNE, Germany — In the aftermath of a contentious Group of 7 meeting in Taormina, Sicily, where leaders failed to persuade President Trump to back the Paris climate accord, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany said on Sunday that tried and tested global alliances were no longer as reliable as they once were, citing her experience “in recent days.”
Ms. Merkel, who is campaigning for a fourth term in the September elections, did not name the country or leader she had in mind.Ms. Merkel, who is campaigning for a fourth term in the September elections, did not name the country or leader she had in mind.
It seemed clear, however, that she was referring mainly to the United States and Mr. Trump, who refused to commit to the goals of the 195-nation climate agreement hammered out in 2015. He has said it would be bad for the United States economy.It seemed clear, however, that she was referring mainly to the United States and Mr. Trump, who refused to commit to the goals of the 195-nation climate agreement hammered out in 2015. He has said it would be bad for the United States economy.
Ms. Merkel, who is balancing the imperatives of preserving the alliance with the United States and sustaining her re-election effort, took stock at a beer tent stop in Munich on Sunday.Ms. Merkel, who is balancing the imperatives of preserving the alliance with the United States and sustaining her re-election effort, took stock at a beer tent stop in Munich on Sunday.
“The times in which we could rely fully on others, they are somewhat over,” she said, according to German news media. “This is what I experienced in the last few days.”“The times in which we could rely fully on others, they are somewhat over,” she said, according to German news media. “This is what I experienced in the last few days.”
The climate accord was the most vivid sign of division between the United States and its allies, but Mr. Trump, who returned home on Saturday night after a nine-day trip overseas, also scolded Germany for its trade practices and lectured NATO members for not adequately supporting the alliance financially.The climate accord was the most vivid sign of division between the United States and its allies, but Mr. Trump, who returned home on Saturday night after a nine-day trip overseas, also scolded Germany for its trade practices and lectured NATO members for not adequately supporting the alliance financially.
But possibly strained ties with the United States were not the only issue for Ms. Merkel: She also had to intervene with the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in Brussels to settle a dispute over visits to German troops stationed in Turkey.But possibly strained ties with the United States were not the only issue for Ms. Merkel: She also had to intervene with the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in Brussels to settle a dispute over visits to German troops stationed in Turkey.
On Saturday, Ms. Merkel was unusually direct in discussing what she called unsatisfying talks on climate change, which is an important issue for many German voters and a hallmark concern for the chancellor, who first made her mark in the 1990s shepherding an international accord on the environment.On Saturday, Ms. Merkel was unusually direct in discussing what she called unsatisfying talks on climate change, which is an important issue for many German voters and a hallmark concern for the chancellor, who first made her mark in the 1990s shepherding an international accord on the environment.
Ms. Merkel, with President Emmanuel Macron of France, expressed disappointment with the unwillingness of Mr. Trump and his administration to back the Paris accord, although Mr. Macron said it appeared that Mr. Trump had at least listened to the arguments of the other G-7 leaders.Ms. Merkel, with President Emmanuel Macron of France, expressed disappointment with the unwillingness of Mr. Trump and his administration to back the Paris accord, although Mr. Macron said it appeared that Mr. Trump had at least listened to the arguments of the other G-7 leaders.
Ms. Merkel, however, sounded a somewhat bleaker note. “The whole discussion about climate was very difficult, not to say unsatisfactory,” she said. “There’s a situation where it’s six, — if you count the European Union, seven — against one.”Ms. Merkel, however, sounded a somewhat bleaker note. “The whole discussion about climate was very difficult, not to say unsatisfactory,” she said. “There’s a situation where it’s six, — if you count the European Union, seven — against one.”
“This is not just any old agreement, but it is a central agreement for shaping globalization,” she said, adding, “There are no signs of whether the U.S. will stay in the Paris accords or not.”“This is not just any old agreement, but it is a central agreement for shaping globalization,” she said, adding, “There are no signs of whether the U.S. will stay in the Paris accords or not.”
On Twitter, Mr. Trump said he would decide in the coming days.On Twitter, Mr. Trump said he would decide in the coming days.
The president has pronounced the trip a resounding success. On Sunday, after being restrained while abroad, he returned to form, writing a string of Twitter posts. Among them: “Just returned from Europe. Trip was a great success for America. Hard work but big results!”The president has pronounced the trip a resounding success. On Sunday, after being restrained while abroad, he returned to form, writing a string of Twitter posts. Among them: “Just returned from Europe. Trip was a great success for America. Hard work but big results!”
The Group of 20 meeting of world leaders will be held in Hamburg, Germany, in July, and that will afford more time for Mr. Trump to discuss the climate change pact not just with the leaders of other Western countries, but also with countries like China, which signed onto the accord after wrestling with hard questions about its effect on the country’s development.The Group of 20 meeting of world leaders will be held in Hamburg, Germany, in July, and that will afford more time for Mr. Trump to discuss the climate change pact not just with the leaders of other Western countries, but also with countries like China, which signed onto the accord after wrestling with hard questions about its effect on the country’s development.