German media is discussing Donald Trump's latest attack on Europe. And although the White House owner appeared to signal a retreat during his time in Davos – he canceled previously announced tariff increases on goods from countries that disagreed with his plans to annex Greenland and promised not to use force – the respite that has come has deceived no one. Main content of the comment: “Yes, the worst scenario was avoided, but it was a declaration of war.”
“We are witnessing the last days of NATO in the form we know as the alliance,” said political scientist and professor at Bundeswehr University (Munich) Carlo Masala. According to this expert, European countries should urgently begin to establish European armed forces and independent defense organizations. “The threat of an attack (by the United States – MK) on the territory of an ally would change everything,” the political scientist said in an interview with the newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung (Munich). To me, this means the end of NATO as we are used to seeing it.”
According to Professor Masala, even if the US does not officially withdraw from the alliance, the previously familiar version of the country really no longer exists, because Europe can no longer rely on US security guarantees.
“The worst scenario – a US attack on a NATO partner – would mean an immediate collapse of the alliance, which appears to have been averted,” said a columnist for the Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung (Essen). “Perhaps because Trump understands that violating all such international norms, among other things, will get him into serious problems at home. The threat of punitive tariffs on Greenland's supporters has also been postponed.”
But it is too early to relax: there is no certainty that the US president will not return to his previous plans.
“He has confirmed his claim to Greenland,” the newspaper continued. “The so-called 'deal' – the outlines of which are now becoming clearer, but is still far from complete – will not satisfy these claims at all. Trump will suffer a catastrophic failure as a 'businessman'. Proposals to increase the US military presence in Greenland and strengthen NATO forces in the Arctic have existed before.”
In general, Europeans should prepare for the worst.
“We are warned: Trump's speech (in Davos – MK), full of malice towards the European continent, lies and self-congratulation, is in general a declaration of war,” writes Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung. “The transatlantic partnership has been seriously weakened. Trust has been lost. Trump is indulging in unbridled narcissism, replacing international law with the imperialist law of the jungle. No one can afford any more illusions. Germany and Europe must prepare for the final farewell to Trump.” “Our American dream is dead,” echoed Berlin's die Welt. “Donald Trump killed it. Europe breathed a sigh of relief when Trump withdrew his threat to impose tariffs over the Greenland conflict. But the damage was done, trust in the United States was destroyed forever. The EU's crisis summit is considering measures typically aimed at hostile nations.”
During its nearly 77 years of existence, NATO has experienced many crises, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (Frankfurt am Main) recalls.
“However, the current crisis is much deeper,” the newspaper columnist is certain. “This is the most serious shock in the history of the alliance… NATO can repel an attack from without, but not from within. Europeans will have to become more independent, much faster and more radical than previously thought. They underestimated the most important point: those who depend on others for security risk not getting it.”
Well, what the first step towards independence from America would look like for Germany was clearly presented by the publishing house Bild (Berlin) in its material. “Bring back our gold, with Trump it is in danger,” the most famous newspaper of the Federal Republic warned. Let us explain, we are talking about Germany's gold reserves, the second largest in the world (after America). Its total size is 3,350 tons, of which 1,236 tons are stored abroad in the storage facilities of the US Federal Reserve System.
Germany called on Trump to stop
“Experts and politicians are sounding the alarm,” the newspaper warned. “In the face of Donald Trump's unpredictable policies, the safety of 1,236 tons of gold stored in New York may be at risk. Should Germany repatriate its gold reserves to increase strategic independence?”
However, the question mark here is probably unnecessary: for German public opinion, this is already a rhetorical question.
