“An interview with Wolfgang #Ischinger - Germany’s best-connected former diplomat on its future in the world”
▻http://www.economist.com/blogs/kaffeeklatsch/2017/05/new-germany #Germany #Allemagne #France #Europe
So although it is long, I am publishing the transcript of our conversation. Among Mr Ischinger’s most striking points were his arguments that:
– Germany is increasingly open to military action
– Brexit makes EU defence integration easier
– Germany’s deployments in Afghanistan, Mali and Lithuania mark a real turning point
– NATO’s 2%-of-GDP target for defence spending is not sufficient on its own
– The 2% should be replaced with a 3% target encompassing defence, foreign policy and aid
– Mr Trump’s statements make it harder for European leaders to contribute more to NATO
– Germany should not contemplate its own nuclear weapon
– Mr Macron’s election is an “enormous and unique” opportunity to relaunch the Franco-German partnership as a model for the whole EU
– The Kohl-Mitterrand era of co-operation can be (partly) revived, starting with joint military procurement
– Mr Macron understands Germany “perfectly”
– Germany and France should consider a 2018 rewrite of the Elysée Treaty codifying the alliance between the two countries
– Germany should consider backing EU majority voting on foreign and security affairs
– Germany and France might eventually share nuclear weapons and an army, but only in the very long term
– Notions of Germany as the new leader of the liberal world are “totally unhelpful”
– Russia’s current belligerence towards the West may not last
– Germany and the West must keep the door open to Mr Putin
– Europe and Canada cannot reform their relationship with Russia without America
– Mrs Merkel’s patience and Russian language skills give her unique advantages in talks with Mr Putin
– Germany must “engage, engage, engage” with Mr Trump
– Mr Trump has “good and experienced pros” in his team but “believes in unpredictability as a negotiating strategy”