The German Christian Democratic Union (CDU) politician Roderich Kiesewetter is calling for a strong diplomatic response from Berlin following the recent imposition of U.S. travel bans targeting individuals associated with the Berlin-based organization HateAid. Kiesewetter’s demands include a formal summons of U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Alan Meltzer, currently acting as the interim head of the U.S. embassy in Berlin.
Speaking to the Handelsblatt, Kiesewetter characterized the U.S. action not as an isolated incident, but as part of a worrying trend demonstrating a decline in American democratic values. He argues that Washington’s actions increasingly contribute to a shift within the United States towards an “oligarchic-authoritarian system” echoing concerns previously raised during the Trump administration regarding a disregard for both Europe and the established liberal international order.
The sanctions levied against HateAid’s executives and former EU Commissioner Thierry Breton are being sharply condemned by Kiesewetter, who views them as a direct interference in European sovereignty. He accuses the U.S. of attempting to circumvent European law and manipulate democratic discourse through intimidation tactics. Kiesewetter further asserts that these actions align with the stated objectives outlined in the U.S. National Security Strategy, which seemingly endorses such interventionist approaches.
The escalation of this diplomatic tension arrives at a particularly sensitive time, as Germany awaits the appointment of a new U.S. ambassador to Berlin. Kiesewetter’s criticism highlights broader questions about the evolving nature of the transatlantic relationship and the potential erosion of mutually held democratic principles, prompting a critical re-evaluation of the U.S.’s role on the global stage and its impact on European autonomy.