Germany Grapples with US Security Strategy
Berlin – A recently released US security strategy is poised to become a significant point of contention and potential diplomatic friction between Germany and Europe, according to prominent legal scholars.. The strategy, championed by the Trump administration, is drawing criticism for what many see as a concerning shift towards interventionist policies and a questionable framing of European stability.
Helmut Aust, a Berlin-based expert in international law, told the “Rheinische Post” that Germany and the wider European Union will be compelled to formulate a response to the US approach by 2026. His primary concern stems from language within the document that appears to endorse “regime change” as a potentially legitimate tool for US foreign policy, applicable even to European nations. This represents, according to Aust, a significant departure from established diplomatic norms and a worrying expansion of US influence.
The strategy’s underlying assumptions are also fueling unease. It describes Europe as facing a decline in “civilizational values” and advocates for the bolstering of “patriotic forces”. Critics argue these formulations represent an unwarranted, aggressive level of intervention and ideological endorsement from Washington, potentially undermining European sovereignty and democratic processes.
Adding to the complexity, the US strategy reportedly signals a revival of the Monroe Doctrine, a historically contentious principle previously used to justify US intervention in Latin America. While the explicit application of the doctrine to Europe isn’t articulated, the revival itself is perceived by many within Germany as a signal of a broader, more assertive US foreign policy agenda.
The implications for German-US relations are significant. While acknowledging the enduring alliance, voices within the German government are already debating how to reconcile the need for transatlantic cooperation with the imperative of safeguarding European autonomy and upholding international legal principles. The debate is likely to intensify as the US policy formally takes shape, potentially forcing a recalibration of Germany’s position within the transatlantic partnership. Aust’s warning underscores a growing sense that Germany cannot passively accept this trajectory and must advocate for a more predictable and mutually respectful foreign policy approach from Washington.
