The SPD parliamentary group has taken a stand against what it sees as provocations by the US government during this weekend’s Munich Security Conference (MSC). Foreign‑policy spokesperson Adis Ahmetovic told the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland that last year US top officials “used the Munich platform to discredit Germany and Europe right in front of our own doorstep”. He added that the SPD is now prepared to respond calmly, united, and self‑confident, stressing that democracies do not need moral preaching but rather respect among partners.
Ahmetovic said the conference must signal Europe’s strength and responsibility. Beyond European self‑confidence he highlighted the importance of cooperation with global mid‑powers such as Canada, Australia, and the Global South. He noted that most countries want an international order based on rules and law, not egotism, and that leaders like former U.S. President Donald Trump and Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin act alone with their style. He urged that this point be underscored during the weekend’s proceedings.
CDU foreign‑policy politician Jürgen Hardt called for a measured response. He pointed to the U.S.’s rapid reaction to Brussels’ customs announcements in the Greenland dispute as evidence of Europe’s strategic importance to Washington. Hardt argued that the U.S. and Europe do not have fundamentally different interests, and that America’s occasional sharp comments should be met with calmness. He said the federal government and Bundestag would use the Munich meeting for a deeper dialogue with the U.S., noting that “critical tones can be part of that” while affirming the close ties between the two sides.