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LeMonde
17 hours ago
- Politics
- LeMonde
The US's slow abandonment of Ukraine since 2014
In the recent history of relations between Europe and the United States, two dates stand out: February 24, 2022, and February 24, 2025. The first marked the return of war to Europe, which united the two main partners of the Western community against Russia. The second sealed their divorce. Battered for two decades, their alliance finally broke over Ukraine. In 2022, for months, President Joe Biden's team tried, in vain, to persuade its European allies that Vladimir Putin, leader of Russia, was preparing his troops to invade Ukraine. Europeans did not want to believe it. Even Ukrainians were skeptical. Russia had been waging a low-intensity war in the east of their country for eight years, after seizing Crimea in 2014. They were familiar with the Kremlin's intimidation tactics. On February 19, at the Munich Security Conference, Vice President Kamala Harris made a final private attempt to warn Volodymyr Zelensky. Washington had evacuated its embassy in Kyiv. In reality, by then, the Ukrainian president was aware of what was coming, but just as conscious of the balance of power with Moscow. Frustrated, he finally said to Harris, "What do you want me to do? What will that give you? If I acknowledge it here in this conversation, will you impose sanctions? Close ports to Russian ships?" The vice president replied that sanctions would come later, according to journalist Bob Woodward's account in his 2024 book War: "The punishment can only come after the crime."
DW
05-06-2025
- Business
- DW
Germany's Merz in Washington for talks with Trump – DW – 06/05/2025
Skip next section Merz says he is ready to discuss German domestic politics with Trump 06/05/2025 June 5, 2025 Merz says he is ready to discuss German domestic politics with Trump Germany's new Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said he is ready to discuss German domestic issues with US President Donald Trump during their first meeting at the White House. "If we also talk about German domestic policy, we are welcome to do so," he said ahead of the meeting. "However, I will also be very clear about my opinion, if necessary," Merz added. But he also stressed that Germany does not interfere or comment when it comes to American domestic politics. Meanwhile, the Associated Press news agency quoted a White House official as saying that Trump would likely raise issues such as German defense spending, trade, Ukraine, and what an official called "democratic backsliding" at the meeting. The anonymous source explained that the Trump administration believes freedom of expression has deteriorated in Germany. This position was made clear during a speech by Vice President JD Vance during his address at the Munich Security Conference in February. According to a press statement from the chancellor's office, Merz said that he wants to thank Trump first for the invitation and then present him with a small gift. The German chancellor is prepared to talk about the war in Ukraine and ways Berlin and Washington can work together to end it. Merz also said that he and Trump will also have to discuss trade policy. "Germany is one of America's largest investors. Few countries invest more in the US than Germany does," he added. The statement also outlined NATO as another topic of discussion. "We've amended the German Basic Law. Now, we can truly make the necessary expenditures to strengthen the Bundeswehr," he said in the statement, adding that Germany's goal is to have the strongest conventional army in Europe. "However, I still don't expect any breakthroughs on the three major issues mentioned," the German chancellor said.
Time Magazine
02-06-2025
- Business
- Time Magazine
Pete Hegseth Talked a Big Game to Indo-Pacific Allies—but Trump Mistrust Runs Deep
Against the backdrop of U.S. Vice-President J.D. Vance's jaw-dropping polemic against European democracies at February's Munich Security Conference, this was a welcome return to sense, if not sanity. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered a powerful though measured speech at Singapore's IISS Shangri-La Dialogue on Saturday, pointedly calling out 'Communist China' for its 'massive military build-up, … grey zone tactics, and hybrid warfare,' while also hailing the strength and importance of America's regional alliances and using the word 'peace' 27 times. 'President Trump is a leader of peace, a man of peace, a force for peace,' Hegseth told the scores of Asia-Pacific defense and military chiefs crammed into the ballroom at Singapore's Shangri-La Hotel. 'And together, we will achieve that peace through strength.' Hegseth repeatedly called the Indo-Pacific 'our priority theater' and, in a marked departure from Vance, actually praised European nations for hiking defense spending as an example that their Asian counterparts should emulate. 'It was quite surprising that he used Europe as a reference in terms of GDP [defense] spending,' Micael Johansson, president and CEO of the Swedish arms manufacturer Saab, told TIME. 'But it was a good speech and more collaborative than I had expected.' As Hegseth described it, American defense policy was now that Europe's security would be left to Europeans, while the U.S. was focusing its rebuilt military might—augmented by a $1 trillion defense spend next year, a 13% year-on-year rise—on the Indo-Pacific. This would focus on boosting America's forward force deployment, helping allies and partners strengthen their security capabilities, and rebuilding defense industrial bases including within friendly nations. 'A strong, resolute, and capable network of allies and partners is our key strategic advantage,' said Hegseth. Hegseth also unleashed several broadsides against China, accusing strongman President Xi Jinping of having 'ordered his military to be capable of invading Taiwan by 2027,' with the former Fox News anchor warning that an assault on the self-ruling island—which politically split from the mainland following China's 1945–49 civil war—'could be imminent.' These remarks drew the inevitable rebuke from Beijing, which issued a statement saying Hegseth 'vilified China with defamatory allegations' that were 'filled with provocations and intended to sow discord.' Beijing also warned that Washington 'must never play with fire on [the Taiwan] question,' which is 'entirely China's internal affair.' Notably, China's defense minister stayed away from the annual security summit for the first time since 2019. Admiral Dong Jun was rumored to have been under a corruption investigation amid a sweeping purge of high-ranking PLA officers, though latest reports suggest that he's been cleared. The Chinese delegation that did attend treated Hegseth's accusations with scorn. 'He used a very strong, harsh tone, which surprised me a little, and it's unconstructive and hypocritical,' says Prof. Da Wei, director of the Center for International Security and Strategy (CISS) at Beijing's Tsinghua University. 'Because the U.S. is imposing high tariffs on regional countries, so how can you expect them to partner with you against another economic power?' Indeed, Trump's internecine global trade war was the glaring elephant in the room. Asked about the 'reciprocal tariffs' imposed in April, Hegseth joked: 'I am happily in the business of tanks, not trade, and I will leave that discussion to the man who knows how to do it best.' Which was the ultimate takeaway for the brass hats present. Hegseth's statement of commitment to the region and working with allies was broadly welcomed but hedged by the chaotic approach of the guy he reports to. Indeed, Hegseth showed his hand when he admitted: 'My job is to create and maintain decision space for President Trump, not to purport to make decisions on his behalf.' Delegates in Singapore were only too aware that today, more than during any other U.S. administration, power rests with just one man, whose constant policy flip-flops— embarrassing Zelensky before lambasting Putin; ripping up one Iranian nuclear deal before seeking another; hiking and pausing tariffs—have conjured a bevy of TACO, 'or Trump always chickens out,' memes as well as the impression that American words have never been cheaper. 'I'm quite sure it's just talk,' one European delegate said of Hegseth's speech. A Bangladeshi military officer agreed: 'It still feels like Trump is a more inward-looking than global President.'
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Hegseth Warns of ‘Devastating Consequences' Should China Seek to ‘Conquer' Taiwan
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said China's threat to Taiwan 'could be imminent,' in what was his most assertive statement to date on Taiwan during a security conference in Singapore. SINGAPORE—Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth vowed that there would be 'devastating consequences' should China seek to 'conquer' Taiwan, in a speech that appeared aimed at easing concerns in Asia over the U.S. commitment to its allies in the region.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Hegseth Vows ‘Devastating Consequences' if China Seeks to Invade Taiwan
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said China's threat to Taiwan 'could be imminent,' in what was his most assertive statement to date on Taiwan during a security conference in Singapore. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
