In four years, former President Donald Trump has made 30,573 false or misleading claims, according to a tally by the washington post. But the former head of the American state also told some truths. Including this one, stated before the United Nations General Assembly in September 2018: “Energy dependence on a single foreign supplier can make a nation vulnerable to extortion and intimidation, said the then tenant of the White House. That is why we congratulate the European states, such as Poland, which have taken the lead in the construction of an oil pipeline [en provenance de Norvège, NDLR]so that nations are not dependent on Russia for their energy needs.”
And to add: “Germany will become totally dependent on Russian energy if it does not change course immediately.” At the time, this warning was greeted with sneers from German diplomats present at the UN. Today, history takes its revenge. And Republicans share Trump’s statement on social networks. Enough to humiliate the Germans, at a time when they hasten to follow, belatedly, Trump’s advice to diversify their supplies.
“An effective strategy…for Germany.”
“Europeans are in the process of understanding that Germany’s priority has never been Europe, but first of all, itself”, confides to L’Express Robert O’Brien, the former adviser to National Security in the White House from 2019 to 2020, which keeps Germanic sneers in the throat. “People have criticized Donald Trump’s ‘America First’ policy, but that’s nothing compared to Angela Merkel’s ‘Germany First’ policy! In fact, there is no policy Germany was more self-centered than that of Angela Merkel. On the one hand, the Germans were buying Russian oil and gas at a discount, on the other, they were selling high-end products to China. At the same time, Berlin was lending money to the rest of the continent and dominated the European Union. An effective strategy…for Germany.”
Passing through Paris – at the beginning of June – where he was made a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor at the request of Emmanuel Macron’s cabinet, the American diplomat continued his criticism in a tone that reflected the disillusionment of the United States vis-à-vis -Vis from Germany. “Berlin prospered, but neglected its defense and its army. It never contributed to European defense to the expected height and did not respect the criterion of 2% of the budget to finance NATO.” The only positive point, according to the 56-year-old diplomat: “The Greens (Die Grünen), starting with Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck, are today taking firm positions vis-à-vis China and Russia.”
Promised to return to business, if the Republicans win the White House in 2024 (some would see him as Secretary of State), O’Brien drives the point home. “We warned Merkel several times. Other Western countries also warned her. She responded with contempt, which played into Moscow’s hands. Now the Ukrainians are paying for her choices with their lives. The verdict of history will be terrible for her.”