- Title: German ForMin warns against underestimating Trump win
- Date: 9th November 2016
- Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (NOVEMBER 9, 2016) (REUTERS) GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER FRANK-WALTER STEINMEIER ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE CAMERAS (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER, FRANK-WALTER STEINMEIER, SAYING: "America has voted and the significance of the election outcome, also for us, must absolutely not be underestimated. The results are other than what most people in Germany desired. But of course, we have to accept this result and we do accept it. In my opinion it is a good thing that the campaigning has finished. The way it was conducted has left deep wounds, which, if I may say in advance, will not be so easy to heal. During the election campaign I said more than once that I too was alarmed by the way it was conducted." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER, FRANK-WALTER STEINMEIER, SAYING: "If, as he said this morning, Donald Trump wants to be the president of all Americans, then I think that his first task will be to tackle the deep divides in U.S. society created by this election campaign. But I think that the even bigger challenge for Donald Trump will be to meet the very high expectations that he himself awakened." VARIOUS OF PHOTOGRAPHERS (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER, FRANK-WALTER STEINMEIER, SAYING: "Most of all I hope that we are not about to face huge dislocations in foreign policy. Donald Trump spoke critically during his election campaign, not just about Europe but also Germany. I think that we will have to get used to a U.S. foreign policy in the near future that is not as predictable and we have to get used to the fact - as Mister Merz, chairman of the Atlantic Bridge, said this morning - that America will be inclined to make decisions on its own." STEINMEIER SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER, FRANK-WALTER STEINMEIER, SAYING: "I don't want to pretty this up, it will not be easy. Many things will be more difficult but I am aware that a functioning transatlantic relationship is akin to the foundations of the West and so we cannot give up on this foundation. There are innumerable, thousands and tens of thousands of human relationships between our country and the U.S. that we have to hold on to and nurture." MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER, FRANK-WALTER STEINMEIER, SAYING: "Ladies and gentlemen! We don't know how Donald Trump will govern America. There are many pressing issues that remain open despite our efforts. Of course we will seek to talk to them to deal with these issues, but this day also gives cause for European and German self-assurance. I think that we must not let ourselves be led by this result, we must remain a place of reason and continue to nourish our political culture." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS
- Embargoed: 24th November 2016 10:24
- Keywords: Steinmeier U.S. election Trump Germany interntaional relations
- Location: BERLIN, GERMANY
- City: BERLIN, GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
- Reuters ID: LVA00157Q4NYF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: PICTURE QUALITY AS INCOMING
Germany's foreign minister said on Wednesday (November 9) that U.S. Republican Donald Trump's victory in the presidential election was not what most Germans had wanted and added that Washington's foreign policy would no longer be as foreseeable as it has been.
"The result is not to be underestimated. The result is different from what most people in Germany desired. But of course we have to accept it," Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said.
Trump's national security ideas, opposed by most of the elite voices across the political spectrum, have simultaneously included promises to build up the U.S. military while at the same time avoiding foreign military entanglements.
He wants to rewrite international trade deals to reduce trade deficits. He has taken positions that raise the possibility of damaging relations with America's most trusted allies in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
"In the course of the election campaign Donald Trump has found critical words about Europe and Germany," Steinmeier said.
"I think that we will have to get used to a U.S. foreign policy in the near future that is not as predictable and we have to get used to the fact [...] that America will be inclined to make decisions on its own," he added.
Trump has promised to warm relations with Russia that have chilled under Obama over Russian President Vladimir Putin's intervention in the Syrian civil war and his annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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