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Miami Herald
15 hours ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
U.S. Pushing Allies to Limit Focus on Ukraine in NATO Summit Communique
The United States is pressuring European allies to limit references to Ukraine in the final communique coming out of next week's NATO summit, according to several sources, a symbolic move that would signal a decline in support for Kyiv under U.S. President Donald Trump's administration. Trump officials have pushed NATO allies to agree to limit mentions of Ukraine in the communique, the document issued at the conclusion of the annual conference that lays out the security alliance's priorities, according to multiple sources in Washington and Europe who are familiar with the negotiations. The current draft of the summit's communique only includes one passing mention of Ukraine's defense capabilities and does not include a broad statement of support for Kyiv, a European official who viewed the draft told Newsweek. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Newsweek. If the U.S. and other NATO members approve the draft, it would represent a departure from the strong statements of support for Ukraine issued at the end of the NATO summits held under former President Joe Biden after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. "People in Moscow, Beijing and in other major capitals of the world look carefully at how the United States and NATO characterize the international security situation," said Jeff Rathke, the president of the American-German Institute at Johns Hopkins University. "If NATO backs away from what it has previously committed to [at the summit], it's a signal of weakness that will very much be picked up on." NATO members are expected to take some steps at the summit to show support for Ukraine. Secretary-General Mark Rutte has called on member states to increase their annual defense spending to deter Russia. The alliance is expected to announce new spending targets of 5 percent at the summit, according to several sources. The figure would consist of 3.5 percent spending on core defense programs and 1.5 percent on military-related infrastructure and logistics. The plan represents a significant victory for Trump, who has long called on NATO members to step up their defense spending. In recent months, the United Kingdom, France, and other countries have also pledged greater military aid to Ukraine, which has relied on Western support in its fight against Russia. The aid has raised tensions between Europe and the U.S. since Trump took office, vowing to bring a swift end to the war in Ukraine. The administration brokered peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, but the negotiations haven't resulted in any meaningful breakthroughs so far. Trump has expressed frustration with both countries for failing to reach a deal, but he has more frequently criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky than Russian President Vladimir Putin. It remains unclear whether Trump will support a Senate bill to impose new sanctions on Moscow or a new military aid package for Ukraine once the current funding for Kyiv expires. A final NATO summit communique that barely mentions Ukraine would be a marked contrast to the statements issued by the security alliance over the past several years. The alliance expressed unequivocal support for Ukraine at the conclusion of the annual summit last year, which was hosted by the Biden administration in Washington. "Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has shattered peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area and gravely undermined global security," the 2024 communique said. NATO pledged in the document to "bolster our long-term support to Ukraine so it can prevail in its fight for freedom." Ukrainian officials said they hoped NATO allies would prioritize Ukraine at the summit without angering Trump, who has spent the past week focused on the escalating war between Israel and Iran. "They're thinking about how to diplomatically promote Ukraine at the NATO Summit and how to not antagonize Trump. It's a difficult challenge," Oleksandr Merezhko, a member of Ukraine's parliament, told Newsweek. "In the final communique, I'd like to see something said about supporting Ukraine," he added. Related Articles "Hitler" Comments Deepen NATO Ally Turkey's Feud With IsraelRussia Accuses UK of Sabotage Plans With US in 'NATO Lake'US and NATO Ally Patrol Waters Near ChinaRussia Feigns at Peace. Congress Must Sanction Putin's War Machine | Opinion 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Miami Herald
05-06-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Trump Set to Square Off With New German Chancellor Merz on Trade, Ukraine
President Donald Trump will meet Thursday with new German Chancellor Friedrich Merz for the first time since Merz swept into power vowing to distance Germany from the United States. The centrist conservative German leader won an election in February with a promise to establish "independence" from Washington, signaling a potential break between the U.S. and one of its most important European allies. "Merz will be trying to create a positive working relationship, but he probably won't just come into the Oval Office and endorse Donald Trump's view of the world," said Jeff Rathke, the president of the American-German Institute, a think tank in Washington. The White House meeting between Trump and Merz will take place amid a backdrop of tensions between the U.S. and Europe over issues ranging from free speech to trade to Russia's war in Ukraine. Berlin and Washington have maintained a close relationship for decades, with Germany — the largest economy in Europe — serving as a key ally on economic and national security issues. Former President Joe Biden and Merz's predecessor, Olaf Scholz, maintained close ties even as they debated how to best aid Ukraine in its fight with Russia. But Merz signaled a new approach after winning the February election and forming a coalition government with his center-right Christian Democratic Union party and Scholz's center-left Social Democrats. Merz told the U.S. not to meddle in German domestic politics after Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized Germany's intelligence agency for labeling the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) group a "right-wing extremist organization." Billionaire Trump ally Elon Musk had sparked an uproar in Germany by backing the AfD last year. "That is our business. We decide that, not the American government," Merz told reporters after he was sworn in last month. The episode followed Merz's election night promise to upend the transatlantic partnership. "My absolute priority will be to strengthen Europe as quickly as possible so that, step by step, we can really achieve independence from the U.S.A," Merz said at the time. "For Germany the partnership with the U.S. dating back to the Cold War has been a cornerstone of its policy," said Garret Martin, an expert on transatlantic relations at American University. "Real independence, depending on how you define it, would be a major shift." Merz's approach will be tested on issues like aiding Ukraine in the war with Russia. Trump is eager to end the conflict, but he has been far more critical of Ukraine than Russia since returning to the White House. More recently, the president's tone has shifted somewhat, marked by social media posts in which Trump wondered aloud "what the hell happened" to Vladimir Putin, who had gone "absolutely crazy." It's also unclear if Trump and the Republican-controlled Congress will approve more military aid for Ukraine once the current tranche of funding runs out later this year. In contrast, Germany and other EU nations have promised to continue aiding Ukraine even without a negotiated peace in sight. Germany is the third-largest provider of aid to Ukraine, trailing only the U.S. and European Union as a whole. Merz has also joined other foreign leaders in criticizing Trump's trade war, a topic that will be front and center when the leaders meet at the White House. The administration is negotiating tariff deals with individual countries as well as the EU. The German leader would be wise to avoid provoking Trump on tariffs, said Emily Kilcrease, the director of the Energy, Economics and Security Program at the Center for a New American Security. "Germany and Europe can work with the U.S. to address some of the concerns that [Trump] has raised," Kilcrease said. There are other areas where it may be easier for Trump and Merz to find common ground. Earlier this year Germany changed its debt rules to ramp up defense spending, an initiative backed by Merz that was passed before he took office. Trump has long urged NATO members to meet their defense spending obligations and may welcome Merz's efforts to boost Germany's defense industry. Under Merz, Germany has also taken steps to toughen its immigration system to reduce the number of asylum-seekers entering the country. The changes have been challenged in court, like many of Trump's own immigration policies in the U.S. "Immigration is an area where I imagine Merz would try to placate and court Trump," Martin said. The two leaders are scheduled to attend a lunch together Thursday and also meet separately with a small group of advisers. Analysts said not to expect the public fireworks that marked Trump's meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa. "Merz is not coming here to pick a fight," Rathke said. Germany understands "there are major tectonic shifts underway on the international scene, but they also want to preserve the transatlantic relationship to the extent they can." Related Articles Welcome to the Age of Dumb Kissinger | OpinionDonald Trump Scores Major Legal Win In TexasWill Donald Trump Get to Pick New Supreme Court Justices?Donald Trump Is Losing Support With Hispanics 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
