US election: Scholz expects missile deployment even after Trump’s election victory

Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes after the election of Donald Trump to the US President that cooperation with the USA continues to go well. On the ARD show Caren Miosga He said he continued to rely on well-functioning transatlantic cooperation. “My principle is always, if I may put it so flippantly: we dance with those who are in the hall. And that also applies to the future President of the USA,” he added. “We have to make sure that cooperation takes place.” The interview discussed, among other things, economic and military areas of possible cooperation as well as dealing with a politician who many observers consider to be a populist.

When asked about punitive tariffs on German products that Trump had announced during the election campaign, Scholz said he was “not naive, but fearless.” German cars would already be in the market today USA built for export to third countries. Regarding the possible US punitive tariffs, he said: “The EU is a leader when it comes to trade issues. That’s good for us in Germany.” Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck from the Greens had also demanded that the EU Commission, which is responsible for the common European trade policy, have to react to US punitive tariffs.

Defense spending now at two percent of GDP

Regarding defense policy cooperation, Scholz pointed out that Germany – unlike in Trump’s first term in office – was meeting the goal set by the NATO states of spending two percent of economic output on security. Other European countries have not yet achieved this goal. During his first term in office, Trump heavily criticized Germany for what he saw as insufficient military spending, the German trade surplus and the German-Russian Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.

Scholz said that Germany was also taking on a clear leadership role in Europe in supporting Ukraine. However, worldwide, the USA has so far been the state that is supporting Ukraine the most with weapons and money against the Russian war of aggression. However, Trump announced during the election campaign that he would end the war quickly and repeatedly criticized US aid to Ukraine.

Scholz also made it clear that he expects Trump to comply with incumbent President Joe Biden’s commitment to station US medium-range missiles in Germany from 2026. “This is an agreement we made with the United States. It is in our common interest.” So he would assume that it would stay that way under Trump. In Germany, especially in the new federal states, the plans are controversial. Scholz said he had his party’s support for this, despite criticism from the SPD Brandenburg about the planned deployment.

Scholz calls Trump on the phone

In July, the federal government agreed with the USA that longer-range US weapons would be stationed in Germany again from 2026 for the first time since the 1990s. This involves conventionally armed systems; nuclear armament is not planned. The aim is to deter Russia. In the interview, Scholz also announced an imminent conversation with Russian head of state Vladimir Putin. This should take place “soon,” he said, without giving a specific date. He wanted to wait for the “right time” and discuss it with the allies beforehand.

According to his government spokesman, Scholz also spoke to Trump on the phone on Sunday evening. Scholz once again personally congratulated the Republican on his election victory and underlined the federal government’s willingness to “continue the successful cooperation between the governments of both countries that has been going on for decades.” They spoke about German-American relations and the current geopolitical challenges and agreed to “work together towards a return of peace in Europe,” the spokesman added, referring to the war in Ukraine. No further details were disclosed.

“I have a very diplomatic style”

Scholz, who had previously called Trump a right-wing populist, pointed out that he also works with politicians of different political colors in Europe. “I always have a very diplomatic style,” said Scholz about himself. However, German-American relations must be intensive, regardless of people. He said he did not interfere in the US election campaign, although he thinks US President Joe Biden is a very good president.

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A day earlier, the Union’s candidate for chancellor, Friedrich Merz, said this in an interview with the Stern announced that he wanted to make “deals” with Trump and make Germany a “leading middle power” again if he won the federal election and became chancellor. In surveys, the Union is currently at around 33 percent, Scholz’s ruling SPD at less than half.