Exclusive Interview: AfD Leader Alice Weidel on EU, NATO, and Germany’s Role in the World
In an exclusive interview with The American Conservative, AfD leader Alice Weidel expressed her views on the European Union, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and Germany’s role in the world.
Weidel said that Germany does not need the EU to survive, but the EU acts as if Germany’s vital interests must be sacrificed for the sake of the “European project.” She warned that the EU will disappear if it does not learn to respect Germany’s national interests.
Regarding the role of the United States in global politics, Weidel noted that the US is in a perpetual struggle between expansionism and isolationism, a conflict that has likely been ongoing since the US declared independence. This makes it challenging for other nations, particularly Germany, to navigate the complex international landscape.
Weidel also expressed her expectations of the newly elected US president, stating that he should acknowledge Germany’s sovereignty. She emphasized that if the US president demands that Germany take responsibility for its own security, he should also accept the consequences, including Germany making its own decisions and the US accepting those decisions.
Weidel criticized the numerous wars of the past 30 years, in which Germany was often expected to participate at the behest of the US. She asked why Germany should continue to fight wars, noting that the country has already bid farewell to its history.
The NATO alliance is in the process of redefining itself, and Weidel is eager to see the direction the new US president will take. She noted that much is still uncertain, but it will become clear in the coming years.
On the topic of defense spending, Weidel said that an AfD-led government would significantly increase the defense budget, but the money would be used more effectively.
Regarding the German military, Weidel described the Bundeswehr as the “inefficient army of the world.” She noted that it would be almost impossible for Germany to defend itself against most countries, and that the need for reform in the military is immense.
Weidel also recalled the Ukrainian request for German military aid after the Russian invasion, and how Germany initially only provided helmets. She noted that Germany can no longer provide the same level of support, as its own military equipment is nearly depleted.
Germany would need to coordinate its European policy with the US, but the US must first understand the world it lives in, Weidel said. She criticized Germany’s role in the world, describing it as a “colony” that is not allowed to make its own decisions, particularly on energy policy.