UPDATE 2 - Germany pledges to be ‘reliable ally’ for expected new Trump administration

UPDATES WITH GERMAN DEFENSE MINISTER’S STATEMENT

By Anadolu staff

BERLIN (AA) - German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has congratulated Donald Trump on his projected election victory, reaffirming her country’s commitment to transatlantic partnership.

“Germany will continue to be a close and reliable ally for the future American administration – that is our offer,” Baerbock told reporters on Wednesday morning after returning from a visit to Ukraine.

She underlined that the US has always been Germany and Europe’s closest ally, and their transatlantic partnership has never been tied to one political party.

"It is the essence of democracy that after the elections there is a readjustment in both domestic politics and foreign policy relations,” she said, acknowledging the potential for shifts in US foreign policy under the new Trump administration.

She stressed the importance of open dialogue in the face of political differences. "As in any good partnership, where there are naturally political differences, an honest and, above all, intensive exchange is more important than ever," Baerbock said.

In his previous term, Trump publicly criticized European allies for not meeting NATO’s defense spending target of 2% of GDP.

He argued that the US was shouldering an unfair burden of NATO's costs and threatened to withdraw from the alliance if other members did not increase their contributions.

Baerbock, a prominent Green politician, has been a vocal critic of Trump in the past. She previously expressed deep concerns about his policies, particularly regarding climate change and his unilateral approach to foreign policy.

Reflecting on her recent visit to Ukraine, Baerbock underscored the critical nature of transatlantic solidarity and continued US engagement for Europe’s security and Ukraine’s defense.

"I have felt more clearly than ever before in the last few days in Ukraine just how much it depends on us standing together for freedom, international law, and democracy for both Europeans and Americans," she said.

"Ukraine is defending our common freedom more than ever before. We will continue to stand firmly by its side for as long as it needs us, for a just and lasting peace in Europe,” she added.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier also underlined the importance of US-Germany cooperation amid ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.

“Transatlantic relations are of key importance for the stability and prosperity of our two countries and our continents”, Steinmeier said in his congratulatory message to Trump.

“In this turbulent world with so many conflicts and uncertainties, our cooperation is of great value and of great power, both bilaterally and as partners in NATO and the United Nations. You can count on Germany as a strong partner by the United States' side,” he added.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said the new US administration will likely focus more on China and the Indo-Pacific region, and will make it necessary for European allies to assume more responsibility for their own defense.

“We cannot afford any military capability gaps in this phase when Russia is waging a war in Europe,” he told a press conference in Berlin, adding that he called his French counterpart this morning, and they agreed to meet in Paris this evening to discuss the election outcome.

“We must do more in Europe for our security, and I have been saying this repeatedly since the beginning of last year. This concerns financing. This concerns strengthening our cooperation, very importantly, our arms industry,” he said.