German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said the United States remained Germany’s closest partner outside Europe. However, there were significant differences that could not be ignored, and Europe needed new partnerships.
He took aim at US President Donald Trump’s actions on the Iran deal, trade and climate change, saying the president was willfully ignoring the negative consequences that his decisions would have on Europe and focusing solely on U.S. interests.
"None of that will make the world better, safer or more peaceful. We were used to relying on what had been agreed. That has fundamentally changed," he told the Sueddeutsche Zeitung.
Maas called for creation of a European security council, an idea backed by Chancellor Angela Merkel, and said ending the current requirement for unanimous decisions on foreign policy and security issues would make the EU more agile, Reuters reported.
Maas also called for Europe to forge alliances with other regions, including countries in Africa, Latin America and Asia.
