EU Leaders Are In 'Shock' Over President-Elect Trump's Comments On Brexit And NATO

German Chancellor Angela Merkel during news conference at the chancellery in Berlin, Germany, January 16, 2017. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

Washington Post: European leaders shocked as Trump slams NATO and E.U., raising fears of transatlantic split

BRUSSELS — European leaders said Monday that they may have to stand alone without the United States once Donald Trump comes to office, raising the prospect of an unprecedented breach in transatlantic relations following Trump’s comments that the European Union is bound for breakup and NATO is obsolete.

Trump said in a weekend interview with the Times of London and Germany’s Bild newspaper that the 28-nation European Union was a vehicle for German interests and said that he was indifferent to its fate. He also said he was committed to European defense even as he expressed skepticism about NATO’s current configuration.

Trump’s attitudes have raised alarm bells across Europe, which is facing a wave of elections this year in which anti-immigrant, Euroskeptic leaders could gain in power. Most mainstream leaders had committed to working with Trump after Jan. 20, even as they expressed hope that he would moderate his views once he took office. His continued hard line has created the grim realization in Europe that they may now have to stand alone, without their oldest, strongest partner.

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WNU Editor: There are a number of important elections in Europe that will probably result in nationalist parties coming to power. The EU establishment are going to be more in shock with that than what President-elect Trump said this weekend.

More News On Europe in 'Shock' Over President-Elect Trump's Comments On Brexit And NATO

German leaders dismayed and bewildered by Trump interview -- DW
EU Nations React With Surprise, Defiance to Trump Remarks -- AP
Trump worries Nato with 'obsolete' comment -- BBC
Trump’s Dismissal of EU Brings Call for Unity -- WSJ
Merkel hits back at Trump: Europe's fate is 'in our own hands' -- Business Insider
Germany hits out at Donald Trump after he labels Nato 'obsolete' and threatens car makers with 35pc tariffs -- The Telegraph

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