Germany slams US national security strategy for ‘critical tones against EU’

BERLIN

Germany on Monday lambasted the new US national security strategy for what it called its “critical tones against the EU.”

“We reject the partly critical comments directed at the EU. Political freedoms, including the right to freedom of expression, are among the fundamental values of the EU. We view attacks in this regard as ideology rather than strategy,” deputy government spokesman, Sebastian Hille, said at a press briefing in Berlin.

We also expressly disagree with some points in the geopolitical analysis. The strategy does not classify Russia as a threat. We do not share this assessment. We stand by NATO’s joint analysis, according to which Russia is a danger and a threat to transatlantic security,” he added.

The new US national security strategy document, released last week, drew sharp criticism from European politicians for alleging that Europe censors free speech and suppresses political opposition.

The 33-page document accused European governments of opposing far-right, anti-immigration movements. It claimed the continent was in economic decline and faced a "real and more stark prospect of civilizational erasure" within the next 20 years.

"The larger issues facing Europe include activities of the European Union and other transnational bodies that undermine political liberty and sovereignty, migration policies that are transforming the continent and creating strife, censorship of free speech and suppression of political opposition, cratering birthrates, and loss of national identities and self-confidence," the document said.