Trump, Scholz discuss ‘return to peace in Europe’

US president-elect’s telephone comes aft nan German leader had openly backed Joe Biden’s re-election.

United States President-elect Donald Trump and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz person agreed to activity for “a return to bid successful Europe” successful their first telephone since nan US election, a German authorities spokesperson has said.

“Both exchanged views connected nan German-American narration and nan existent geopolitical challenges,” Scholz’s spokesperson, Steffen Hebestreit, said successful a connection connected Sunday.

“The chancellor underlined nan government’s willingness to proceed nan decades-long successful practice betwixt nan governments of some countries. They besides agreed to activity together towards a return to bid successful Europe.”

Trump’s return to nan White House is being intimately watched successful Europe for really it mightiness impact Russia’s warfare successful Ukraine.

Trump, who has criticised US President Joe Biden’s support for Kyiv, has claimed that Russia would ne'er person invaded Ukraine if he were president and that he would beryllium capable to extremity nan conflict “in 24 hours”.

On Sunday, The Washington Post reported that Trump had spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin and pressed him not to escalate nan warfare successful Ukraine.

During nan telephone from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago property successful Florida connected Thursday, Trump reminded Putin of Washington’s sizeable subject beingness successful Europe, nan Post reported, citing an unnamed personification acquainted pinch nan matter.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said pinch Trump connected Wednesday successful a telephone notably joined by tech billionaire Elon Musk, 1 of Trump’s astir powerful backers.

Trump’s telephone pinch Scholz notably comes aft nan Republican said pinch respective leaders of smaller European countries, including French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.

During nan US predetermination campaign, Scholz, who is facing threat elections early adjacent twelvemonth pursuing nan illness of his governing coalition, criticised Trump arsenic divisive and openly expressed his penchant for Biden.

During Trump’s first word successful office, his administration’s relations pinch Scholz’s predecessor and conjugation partner Angela Merkel were often strained.

In office, Trump formed Berlin arsenic a free-rider connected nan protection of nan US subject and announced plans to trim nan number of US troops stationed successful Germany by astir one-quarter.

On Wednesday, Musk welcomed nan illness of Scholz’s coalition, labelling him a “fool” successful a station successful German connected X.

Trump has suggested that Musk could subordinate his management arsenic a alleged “secretary of cost-cutting”.

The billionaire CEO of Tesla and SpaceX has fought pinch European officials and regulators connected aggregate fronts, including complete alleged breaches of nan Digital Services Act by X, which he besides owns.

Source

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Al Jazeera and news agencies