German Vice Chancellor accuses US of attacking shared Western values

The administration of US President Donald Trump has launched an attack on the values of Western society. Robert Habeck, Germany's vice chancellor, the country's economy minister and a member of the Green Party, said this on February 16 during the German Chancellor's debate.

"What has been happening in recent weeks and at the Munich Security Conference cannot be underestimated because the Trump administration has launched a frontal attack on the West's value community. It's not just about interfering in the election battle, it's about destroying the very foundation on which the relationship between America and Europe was built," Habeck said, referring to the rule of law, liberal democracies, and rules-based order as shared values.

He said the U.S. sees no problem in making a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but everyone else should see it as a huge problem.

"Behind these values is everything that is enshrined in the German Basic Law, that defines the social market economy, that made Europe a continent of peace. The main idea is that power cannot be unlimited. But these people have one thing in common: I have the biggest army - that means I just take over the country. I'm the richest man - that means I want to get even richer. I have the most powerful market - that means I ignore all market rules," he added.

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The Axios publication reported that the American leader's statements "stifle and overwhelm" European states. It is specified that the corresponding effect on European countries had a telephone conversation between Trump and the Russian president, statements of Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth about the need for Europe to personally take responsibility for its security, as well as the introduction of retaliatory duties against the countries of the European Union.