Just days before the inauguration of the new US President, former Federal President Joachim Gauck has stressed the imperative preservation of the transatlantic alliance. In an interview with the Welt am Sonntag, Gauck expressed mixed emotions regarding the second term of Donald Trump, stating that the potential repercussions for American democracy and global stability are enormous and difficult to predict. He urged that it would be prudent to refrain from publicly expressing discontent with the new US President, as this could potentially jeopardize the overall relationship with the United States.
Gauck emphasized that a break in the transatlantic alliance, which is militarily organized through the NATO, should not come from Europe. He criticized the AfD and Sahra Wagenknecht, saying that they are misleading the public by suggesting that Germany no longer needs the NATO. “These people want a Germany that embarks on an adventurous and misguided course” Gauck warned, highlighting the importance of preserving the alliance.