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US-German relations have “bottomed out” because of economic and political differences and Washington’s repeated threats, often made by its ambassador to Berlin, according to Der Spiegel.
After Richard Grenell arrived in Berlin as US ambassador in May 2018, the two sides had a “diplomatic silence”, while former European Parliament Speaker Martin Schultz likened the US ambassador to the “far-right colonial officer”. .
Because of Grenell’s behavior, German officials have shunned him. Chancellor Angela Merkel has never met him, while Foreign Minister Heiko Maas prefers only brief meetings with him, according to Der Spiegel.
Berlin and Washington continue to cling to the divergent positions on the Iran nuclear deal, and there is still the specter of new tariffs looming amid continuing trade friction between the two countries.
Against the backdrop of controversy over Washington’s demand for its NATO allies to increase military spending to 2 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), Ambassador Grinnell had threatened to withdraw US troops from its territory.
The report, “Der Spiegel” that the Germans view of the United States is more negative today than ever before, where 85% of German citizens described their position on the United States as bad or very bad.
Hopes in Berlin for the return of the “beautiful days of the transatlantic partnership” as President Donald Trump’s term ends are “nothing but illusions”, and relations will not return to what they were before, as Trump’s opponents, Democrats, also support some aspects Trump’s criticism of Europe, even if Trump leaves America will remain an uncomfortable partner for Germany.
