South Africa: Beyond Zuma - Let's Do a Merkel and Take the Long View

analysis

At the weekend, German Chancellor Angela Merkel was in campaigning mode. As she swilled beer with locals in Munich, Merkel said pointedly, "The days when Europe could rely on others... to a large extent were over. This is what I have experienced in the last few days. Europe must really take our fate into our own hands." Merkel was clearly referring to US President Donald Trump's recent visit, his indecision on whether to stay in or out of the Paris climate accord and his ambivalence regarding Nato. Merkel was taking what strategists call "the long view".

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is, in all likelihood, right. The United States, in Donald Trump, has an unreliable and unconventional transAtlantic partner and instead of pandering to his irascibility, Europe may be better served trying to be more self-reliant. This strategy would not be without implication as the US remains a superpower that cannot simply be ignored.

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