MERKEL ON THE DEFENSIVE As this fine article correctly says, Merkels response to the growing pressure she is coming under over her Russian policy is to dig in her heels. The fact that Merkel is having to talk in this increasingly strident way is not a sign of political strength. Rather it is a sign of her trying to shout her critics down. One of the things about the article that really stood out for me is Merkels extreme sensitivity to any increase in Russian influence within the EU. This was on full display during the Cyprus crisis (when she was reportedly furious at reports that Cyprus might turn to Russia instead of the EU for financial help) and it was on full display again in her recent speech in Sydney when she made clear her alarm that other European states (including Serbia, which is not a member of the EU) might be tempted to tilt towards Moscow. The same alarm is once again evident in her latest interview. It this is a further sign of Merkels own double-standards and (dare I say it) to her insecurity. Apparently it is fine for the EU to encroach on Russias space and wrong for Russia to object to the EU doing so, but it is wrong of Russia to encroach on the EUs space and right for the EU (and Germany) to object to it doing so. A relationship simply cannot work if it is conducted in this one-sided way, which is why it is falling apart. Merkel has in my opinion always been a status quo leader who has thrived because Germany is basically a contented country. Unfortunately with that has come complacency. The result is that she has drifted into a policy that for the first time puts her in conflict with a large section of the German and European elite whose interests and long-term strategic goals it contradicts. The result is that she is coming under increasing pressure and it is starting to show. russia-insider/en/germany_politics/2014/12/08/08-12-30am/angela_merkels_sunday_interview
Posted on: Mon, 08 Dec 2014 14:28:12 +0000
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