Malik Waqar
Berlin (dpa) – German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has called on Europeans to stand united in light of frictions surrounding US President Donald Trump and ongoing hybrid attacks by Russia in the Baltic Sea region. “In this phase of geopolitical upheaval, we Europeans must present a confident and united front and act accordingly,” Wadephul said ahead of his visit to EU and NATO partners Latvia and Sweden. What matters, he said, is “that we do not allow ourselves to be divided – because that is precisely the aim of those who have an interest in the disintegration of our defence alliance and the European Union”.
Trump somewhat eased tensions over Greenland last week when he said he did not intend to pursue a violent solution after all. He again affronted NATO partners at the weekend, however – this time with disparaging remarks about their deployment in Afghanistan.
Wadephul is to deliver a speech as guest of honour at the Latvian Ambassadors’ Conference in the Latvian capital of Riga. In addition, talks are scheduled with his counterpart Baiba Braže. In the afternoon, Wadephul plans to meet his Swedish counterpart Maria Stenergard in the Swedish capital Stockholm. Sweden did not join NATO until March 2024 after around 200 years of military non-alignment.
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