German President Criticizes Trump’s America First Policy for Creating an Unstable World

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier took a bold stance against President Donald Trump’s “America First” foreign policy at the annual Munich Security Conference. In his opening speech, Steinmeier criticized the current administration for prioritizing U.S. interests over those of its allies, stating that this approach rejects the concept of the international community.

Without directly naming Trump, Steinmeier referenced his “Make America Great Again” campaign slogan, warning that the U.S. is pursuing its own agenda at the expense of neighbors and partners. He emphasized the importance of a unified policy among European leaders to address the growing threats posed by Russia and China, accusing both countries of amplifying global insecurity in pursuit of “great power” competition.

The largest U.S. delegation to attend the forum, including Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Lindsey Graham, and Rep. Adam Schiff, listened to Steinmeier’s remarks. The German president also highlighted the significance of NATO, urging member countries to increase defense spending to meet the 2% GDP goal set at the 2014 summit in Wales.

While Germany is one of 19 NATO members that have not met the spending target, Steinmeier stressed that defense spending should not be the sole focus of security measures. The conference serves as a platform for global leaders to address pressing security issues and foster international cooperation in the face of growing geopolitical challenges.