Dealing with the USA
“If you have such friends, you no longer need enemies”
29.03.2025 – 02:44 a.m.Reading time: 2 min.
Armin Laschet wants to tie the USA closer to Europe. Bestselling author Florian Illies sees it differently: he demands emancipation.
How should Europe behave towards the USA and the Trump government? Opinions differ. Some demand pressure on US President Trump, other diplomacy and negotiations. So also the CDU politician Armin Laschet.
He wants to bind US President Donald Trump to Europe in view of the conflicts with Russia and China. “It does not bring us a millimeter if we get out of Donald Trump every day and make fun of him,” Laschet told the Funke media group. “You have to do everything to bind Trump to Europe as closely as possible.” It is important to make him clear that there is also close cooperation in American interest.
“There are geopolitical conflicts, not only with Russia, but also with China. Trump will also need us again,” said Laschet. Nevertheless, Europe has to prepare for the fact that the United States is no longer available. A European army is only the end of the end, initially a common armaments industry is needed.
On Thursday, the “coalition of the willing” had advised on Ukraine support with top representatives from 31 countries. There was no agreement on the possible posting of European armed forces to secure a possible ceasefire in Ukraine. The executive Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) was cautious about this. Laschet also has his doubts about the project: “At the moment I lack the imagination of what a peace force for Ukraine should look like without the Americans.”
On the other hand, the publicist and author Florian Illies sees it differently. In view of Donald Trump’s second presidency, the “Zeit” editor sees the time that the Europeans emancipate themselves from the Americans. “Yes, it is time that half a billion of Europeans rediscover their own self-confidence, their strength, their history-and finally stop at Europe only to think of the EU regulations on the degree of bananas.” The bestselling author writes in a “time” essay.
It also says: “Anyone who listens to Donald Trump, JD Vance, Pete Hegseth or Marco Rubio knows that if you have such friends, you no longer need enemies.” Illies’ suggestion: “We should withdraw from the American government in general and Donald Trump in particular what they need most: our undivided attention.” In short: “Americans, please do what you want. But we are gone.”
