According to former Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer, Donald Trump would never have reached the presidency without the events of 9/11. Speaking to the magazine Focus, Fischer asserted that “without the long commitment in Afghanistan and especially without the misjudgment of the Iraq War, Donald Trump would not have become President.”
When asked what 9/11 precipitated as its deepest change, the former minister stated that the “absolute unpredictability was the self-weakening of the United States under Trump. That is the decisive factor for me.”
Fischer acknowledged his understanding of the “fatigue among American voters regarding endless and lost wars.” However, he argued that a global superpower cannot simply declare, “I’ve had enough,” and withdraw; such an action would incur a very high cost, one that would affect everyone dependent on that power.
In the sphere of international politics, Fischer emphasized that “perception by the counterpart is crucial.” He noted that the US has diminished significant elements of both its deterrence capability and its soft power. He added that European trust in the United States has been lost, and restoring that trust is incredibly difficult.
Consequently, Fischer advocates for making German rearmament “a European project.” Yet, he remains skeptical, criticizing the common argument that “it is our money.” That approach, he contends, is shortsighted. He finds the current German government’s stance problematic, noting that Germany is facing extreme challenges-specifically, a generation that does not necessarily prioritize historical understanding, coupled with the return of extreme German nationalism, as embodied by parties like the AfD.
