The SPD’s chair, Lars Klingbeil, has expressed the opinion that the EU and Germany should focus on their own strengths in the face of Donald Trump’s second term. “Germany should take the lead confidently, by re-strengthening ‘Made in Germany'” Klingbeil told the Frankfurt Allgemeine Zeitung (Wednesday edition). “That’s the best response to Trump.”
At the same time, he emphasized the need to make it clear that a good transatlantic cooperation is not only in Germany’s interest, but also in that of the United States. The EU, with more than 450 million people, is the strongest economic area in the world, and it can match the US.
Klingbeil advocated for taking Trump’s words seriously, but not reacting hectically, polarizingly, or complainingly. “We are facing a balancing act” the SPD politician said. The international experience of Federal Chancellor and Chancellor candidate Olaf Scholz (SPD) is crucial in this regard.
“We can only influence Trump to a limited extent” Klingbeil said. However, German politics bears a high responsibility in these times to advance European cohesion. This includes, among other things, better setting up national and European security policies. “These things are in our own hands. Here, we should take bold steps forward” Klingbeil concluded.