Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel (2005-2021) stated that in the difficult relationship with US President Donald Trump, a common language must be found, and otherwise, "one must take a stand without fear or flattery."
“Not trying to be too nice, at least I've never been under any illusions about that, even when things were going well, but also not trying to be too provocative. I have always followed that rule," Merkel said in an interview with Focus magazine.
At the same time, he warned against underestimating the American leader.
"Whoever holds such a position has incredible power. And therefore, it should be taken very, very seriously," said the former Chancellor of Germany.
Earlier, in an interview with Reuters, Trump stated that he hates NATO and is thinking about withdrawing the US from the alliance. In an interview with the British newspaper The Daily Telegraph, the US Prime Minister explained that he is thinking of reconsidering the US participation in NATO, because the alliance could not support Washington in the war with Tehran.
In the same interview, the American leader called NATO a "paper tiger" and admitted that he never had much sympathy for that organization.
