Daniela Schwarzer, Otto Wolff Director of the Research Institute
Expertise: Transatlantic relations; developments in the EU; German foreign policy and German policy toward Europe
"As a candidate, Trump called NATO and trade agreements into question, while sending a friendly signal in Moscow’s direction. His campaign dealt a blow to liberal democracy by promoting discrimination, lies, and aggression. Even if President Trump holds back on some of this, Germany and Europe can longer count on the transatlantic partnership as it has in the past – and will have to stand up for Western values with greater forcefulness."
Henning Riecke, Head of Program, USA/Transatlantic Relations Program
Expertise: German and US foreign and security policy; European and transatlantic security policy
"The democratic superpower has elected a man to the highest office who has no knowledge of foreign policy, and who questions some of the central pillars of American democracy. That will especially please authoritarian regimes – with whom Donald Trump wants to get along nicely. At the international level, the US has already taken a heavy hit with the election campaign. Now the crisis of political culture in the US enters a new phase. This is no good omen for America’s leadership."
Josef Braml, Editor-in-Chief, DGAP Yearbook
Expertise: Transatlantic relations and American views on world order; religion and politics in the United States
“We should assume that social and economic problems in the US will only become more entrenched during Donald Trump’s presidency, and that political fronts will harden further. Social divisions and political radicalization will put even more pressure on the democratic system of the Western world’s leading power, which will of course have an impact on Europe and the rest of the world. The more the US focuses on its own problems, the less it will be able to enforce global security.”
Jana Puglierin, Head of Program, Alfred von Oppenheim Center for European Policy Studies
Expertise: European foreign, security, and defense policy; transatlantic relations
“Donald Trump’s victory poses an existential threat to transatlantic relations and to our close partnership with the United States. It is likely to strengthen mistrust and aversion on both sides of the Atlantic, making cooperation very difficult. Considering upcoming 2017 elections in Europe, what disturbs me most is the signal it sends to European parties like Front National or AfD. If someone like Trump can make it there, he can make it everywhere.”
Stefan Meister, Head of Program on Eastern Europe, Russia, and Central Asia, Robert Bosch Center
Expertise: Russian foreign and security policy; EU-Russia relations
“In his speech at the Valdai Club in the end of October, Vladimir Putin pointed out that Moscow expects proposals and compromises from Washington for the solution of the Syrian war and the Ukraine conflict. The Kremlin is not willing to make compromises. According to Putin, it’s the new US-president’s turn to make concessions. Making a deal on Syria or Ukraine could in fact be easier with Donald Trump than with Hillary Clinton in the White House, but Congress will block it. At the same time the isolationist Trump will not give Moscow the attention that it expects from a US-president.”
Svenja Sinjen, Head of Program, Future Forum Berlin
Expertise: Security and defense policy; transatlantic security relations/NATO; conflict management Syria/Iraq
“Donald Trump has repeatedly emphasized that the price tag for America’s future NATO commitment will rise considerably for Europe. Germany and its European partners could well have to act without US assistance on certain serious crises in the future. Keeping in mind political dislocations in Europe and the upcoming federal election campaign in Germany, such a scenario is certainly worrisome. All in all, this could make for a very painful process for German security policy.”
Claudia Schmucker, Head of Program, Globalization and World Economy Program
Expertise: Transatlantic economic relations; globalization and the world economy; G7/G20; international economic organizations
“Donald Trump challenges the basic principles of transatlantic cooperation, and this also relates to trade. As a candidate, Trump was outspoken against trade agreements and claimed he wants to withdraw from the WTO and erect new trade barriers. Even though he is dependent on the US Congress, he will harm transatlantic trade through his new nationalism. TTIP will be dead.”
