Germany votes, Trump attacks, Europe reacts

EU Confidential

POLITICO

Politics, News Commentary, News

4.4 • 175 Ratings

🗓️ 21 February 2025

⏱️ 35 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Europe suddenly has to do it all — all alone, all at once. Still in shock after U.S. President Donald Trump’s unequivocal pivot toward Moscow, European leaders are grappling with the real possibility that they won’t be able to count on NATO — and the reality that the EU might not offer much of an alternative format. That said, companies and capitals are looking to Brussels for a way to prop up struggling industries while not abandoning climate goals. And German voters will decide on Sunday whether to side with Trump and Elon Musk to support the far-right Alternative for Germany party. POLITICO’s Chris Lunday joins EU Confidential host Sarah Wheaton to explain how migration is testing Germany’s firewall against the far right. Then, Defense Editor Jan Cienski and Policy Editor Joanna Roberts break down Europe’s existential choices on both defense and economics. And don’t miss the latest episode of our sister podcast, Power Play. Host Anne McElvoy sits down with John Bolton, who served as Trump’s national security adviser during his first presidency. Listen here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	In some ways, this is a very normal episode of EU Confidential.
0:06.0	We're going to talk about the upcoming elections in Germany, the polls, the possible coalitions, typical stuff.
0:14.0	We're also going to talk about EU regulations, the tension between green ambitions and industry profits,
0:22.8	you know, the eush.
0:27.1	But, um, we're also going to talk about the potential sudden collapse of NATO and even the EU
0:32.7	has a format to deal with safety and security on the continent of Europe.
0:38.5	Almost exactly three years into Vladimir Putin's war with Ukraine, he's kicking off so-called
0:43.8	peace talks with Donald Trump's team, locking out Kiev and Europe. And now Trump is ramping
0:49.4	up his attacks on Kiev, accusing Ukraine of starting the war.
0:53.0	You should have ended it three years. You should have never started it. You could have made a deal.
0:57.0	Calling Volodemian Zelensky a dictator. A dictator without elections. Zolensky better move
1:02.4	fast or he's not going to have a country left. Got to move. Got to move fast.
1:06.6	And just as striking, treating Putin like a regular negotiating partner. Meanwhile, Vice President
1:12.9	J.D. Vance met with the head of Germany's extreme right party, just as voters there head to the polls.
1:18.9	On Sunday, they'll decide whether to keep things generally normal or blow up the country's post-Hitler
1:24.4	norms. So what will a new German government mean for Europe and its role in the war?
1:30.8	Has Ukraine's biggest fight now moved off the battlefield?
1:34.6	And what about the EU?
1:36.2	Is it still stuck in reactive mode?
1:38.6	Talking tough but doing little?
1:40.3	Or is it finally ready to take charge and shape its own future?
1:45.8	I'm Sarah Wheaton, host at you Confidential, and let's just dive right in with our first guest.
	...

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