Name: Germany’s Transatlantic coordinator Metin Hakverdi: Europe is becoming more sovereign | DW News
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Miss Akbadi, you're the Special Coordinator of transatlantic relations between Germany and the US and you will be coordinating everything.

We heard from the German Chancellor, from U.S. secretary Rubio.

Valentine's card here from the Munich Security Conference.

So we were putting particular emphasis on the speech, everybody, because of the speech of J.D.

So obviously we all compare the two speeches.

And yes, it was, of course, much milder in this tone and what we heard, but

it also recognized what happened over the past year.

vance speech was a year ago, and the Chancellor, he referred to that speech in his speech today.

So this was more or less an answer not only to the speech of J.D.

vance last year, what the Chancellor said, but also recognized what happened in between.

So we had an election in Germany, we amended the Constitution, we had challenges within the.

Within the alliance concerning Greenland and others, but

we were developing a lot and coming back, so to speak, for our security in Europe.

And this is what Marco Rubio also had to refer to.

We delivered something in between, and that's why it sounded a lot milder.

So, yes, there was a good signaling to work together with the Europeans.

Obviously, issues remain to be talked about, but this was a good start for this.

I would say, to use the terminology of the Chancellor, the New World Order or after the Old World Order, to get to work together.

You're sounding incredibly diplomatic there.

But at the same time, the White House posted a Valentine's card which has a big heart with Greenland in it.

And Greenland clearly was the turning point that US claim to potentially take over Greenland.

the Europeans did change their tone and we heard a German Chancellor being a lot more assertive in saying, the MAGA movement does not resonate with the Europeans.

And on the other hand, we heard from Marco Rubio saying, we're doing all of this because we care, but

not going back on any of the demands towards the Europeans, not just on defence, but

also in terms of values, migration, cooperation with far right parties here in Europe.

So has anything really changed here at the Munich Security Conference, or is it just different language that we've heard?

It is different language, as I just described, and

it's not just diplomatic and problems are still on the ground.

So I think the Greenland issue will come back in some sort of.

But we showed in the first instance, so to speak that Europe is united on this one, that we are willing to draw a line in the sand and say this is the limit of it.

And concerning the culture war that to be carried from the US to Munich here, which I would argue JD Vance attempted last year, the Chancellor was very clear about this as well.

Language has changed, but in the issues themselves, we are much clearer on the ground.

I've never seen the Chancellor being that clear that we do not want this interference on questions of our democracy, our sovereignty for itself.

And that includes not only right wing parties, as you said, and

the influence in our system, but also the digital services from American companies in Germany.

No, this is a dynamic process and we are becoming more sovereign.

And in a worst case scenario, this will be the separation of North America and Europe.

In a best case scenario, we're getting prepared for a future where we are a stronger, better partner that is more self confident.

And I think you could read that in the Chancellor's speech as well.

Well, he spoke of wanting to refound those relationships rather than repair.

And you going into the tonality a bit, we heard Marco Rubio really wanting to keep that what he called an internal bond that is there.

But beyond that language, there is policy that also speaks a very clear language.

The lack of support for Ukraine, for instance.

That is clear criticism from the US side that Europeans should be able to deal with their own issues on their own turf.

Okay, well, we need to engage full with this administration because the focus has been away from the central government recently.

It was more towards the individual US States, wasn't it?

Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.

Marco Rubio didn't mention Russia in his speech.

He was questioned after his speech from Wolfgang Isinger.

So that is one of the issues that remain.

On the other hand, I 100% agree with Chancellor Merz.

No matter what will happen in Washington, no matter what will happen in Moscow and Beijing and in Berlin.

There will be no back to normal of the good old transatlantic times because the world has changed, Russia has changed, China has changed.

Remember that German debate about amending the Constitution?

We will be the Exporter of security in Lithuania.

It's not only that 5,000 German troops are being stationed in Lithuania.

Their families will be living there, 50 km away from the border.

We are doing that what the US did in Europe for over six or seven decades after World War II.

So, of course, this relationship changes.

What we can do is we can prepare for the worst, we can also get prepared for the best.

And if the better future comes up, we are a good partner.

If the worst thing is coming up, we are sovereign, more sovereign than we used to be in the past.

And there's the room for maneuvering on both sides.

And I think what's very important is remember that Matt's speech yesterday, the last part he translated into English, Right.

So that is the main message for our American friends.

We truly believe that NATO is not just a goodie for Europeans and only we need NATO to support our security for the future.

It's also in the interest of the United States.

This is what we believe, and we are ready for this.

If Washington believes that NATO is just a burden for them, then we're getting prepared on the European NATO side.

But if they believe that China is maybe bigger, the challenges out there are so big that we are.

There is a mutual benefit on both sides, then we are ready to.

we will see how this develops, but we are ready for it.

You will be in the thick of it, though, as well.

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Germany’s Transatlantic coordinator Metin Hakverdi: Europe is becoming more sovereign | DW News

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