The German Chancellor delivered her first substantive public blow to the French President’s recent claim that the trans-Atlantic military alliance was suffering from “brain death”. In a speech to the Bundestag, she insisted the 29-member security bloc remains as important now as it did during the Cold War. “The preservation of Nato is in our fundamental interest, even more so than during the Cold War, “she told MPs.
“For the time being, Europe can’t defend itself on its own – we are reliant on this trans-Atlantic alliance.”
Speaking to the Economist magazine, Mr Macron argued that the European Union should focused on developing its own armed forces to protect the Continent.
He blamed Donald Trump’s shift to US unilateralism after the President withdrew troops from Northern Syria without consulting his Nato allies and then Turkey’s decision to launch a military incursion into the region.
The French leader questioned whether the US would continue to honour its Article 5 commitment – the mutual defence clause that underpins Nato.
“The instability of our American partner and rising tensions have meant that the idea of European defence is gradually taking hold,” he said.
“I would add that we will at some stage have to take stock of Nato. To my mind, what we are currently experiencing is the brain death of Nato.”
Mrs Merkel agreed that Nato needs to improve political co-operation between its member states, insisting that ‘military solutions alone will never be enough”.
She also supported the French leader’s claim that Brussels must do more to bolster the bloc’s own defences, adding it was “right for the Continent to take on more responsibility”.
“It was important to establish a European arm that would co-operate with Nato” and for the EU to continue developing its own capabilities to carry out joint deployments without the trans-Atlantic alliance, she said.
But added such projects “must never be against Nato or instead of Nato”.
They should be as part of an “expanded European Pillar” within the Nato alliance.
Mrs Merkel also she insisted she is helping Germany comply with Nato’s spending targets, of two percent of GDP, after Mr Trump demanded that European countries had to do more to oblige their commitments.
MUST READ: Merkel rages at Macron ‘I’m tired of picking up the pieces!’
But the plans attracted criticism from senior Germany politicians who believe Nato is trying to paper over cracks caused by Mr Macron.
Norbert Rottgen, chairman of the influential German foreign affairs committee, said: “The French President declares Nato brain-dead and now we have a working group where alumni will say what the future is.
“The politicians responsible have to know that themselves: what is the future of Nato, what do we need it for after the end of the Cold War?”