Germany: Klingbeil in Washington for talks with Bessent – DW – 08/04/2025
Germany's Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil is Washington on his first official visit in office.
He'll meet US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to discuss trade, global cooperation, and trans-Atlantic ties. The talks follow a key deal easing tariffs between the EU and the US, cutting duties on European imports to 15%.
Back in Germany just 16% of Germans say they would be willing to take up arms in the event of an attack, a new study has revealed while more than a quarter of those surveyed said they considered a military attack on the country within the next five years to be very or somewhat likely.
And, Bavarian State Premier Markus Söder has called for a reduction in benefit rates for Ukrainian refugees in Germany.German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD) is in Washington on Monday for talks with his US counterpart Scott Bessent, a week after the EU agreed with the United States on a 15% tariff for most European goods.
The pair are expected to discuss issues related to trade while also maintaining and expanding the transatlantic partnership, the Ministry of Finance said ahead of the trip.
Klingbeil will also meet with World Bank President Ajay Banga and civil society actors to discuss issues of global security and sustainable growth.
The premier of Bavaria, Markus Söder, said it is time to reduce the benefits for Ukrainian refugees in Germany.
Söder is in favor of offering Ukrainians lower benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act, as opposed to the citizen's allowance, which is currently in place.
In an interview with German broadcaster ZDF, Söder said he is in favor of reducing benefits for certain Ukrainian refugees.
Söder said there should be "no more citizen's allowance for all those who have come from Ukraine."
The citizen's allowance in Germany is a state welfare benefit given to those with little or no income to ensure a minimum standard of living.
Around one in six Germans say they would join the military in the event of a conflict or a call to arms, a new survey revealed on Monday.
Conducted by the research institute Forsa for the RND media group, the poll recorded that 16% of participants said they would "definitely" fight, while another 22% said they would "probably" do so.
However, 59% said they would "probably not" or definitely not be willing to defend Germany in the event of an attack. Among women, that reluctance is 72%.
More than one in four respondents (27%) said they considered a military attack on Germany within the next five years to be very or somewhat likely.
Meanwhile, 59% of respondents said they felt it was likely that Germany would have to provide military assistance to another NATO member.
Around 1,000 citizens took part in the survey which was carried out on July 28 and July 29, amid heightened debate regarding Germany's defense preparation and increased spending in this area.
According to Forsa, the results carry a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points.
In May, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said that Berlin accepts in principle the demand from the United States that NATO member states increase defense spending to 5% of GDP.
Currently, Germany spends around 2% of its GDP on defense.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
from the DW newsroom.
German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil is in Washington for talks with his US counterpart Scott Bessent.
Elsewhere, Markus Söder has called for an end to the citizen's allowance for Ukrainian refugees in Germany, preferring to offer lower benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act.
A survey of around 1,000 German citizens has been conducted, amid heightened discussion over the country's defense readiness.
Follow us for stories on how Germany is coping with the myriad of challenges faced by many countries today, as well as a general roundup of the major talking points regarding Europe's largest economy.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Int'l Business Times
an hour ago
- Int'l Business Times
Trump Tariffs Don't Spare His Fans In EU
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban promised that the return of his "dear friend" Donald Trump as US president would usher in a new "golden age". But trade unionist Zoltan Laszlo says Hungary's auto industry has seen the opposite as the United States announced new tariffs, with order cancellations and workflow disruptions marking employees' day-to-day experience. With tariff rates rising from 2.5 percent before Trump's return to around 25 percent and finally to 15 percent, the "American tariff slalom" has caused nothing but chaos in the car industry, said Laszlo, who represents workers at Mexican automotive parts manufacturer Nemak's Hungarian plant. In recent years, Hungary and neighbouring Slovakia have become European manufacturing hubs for global car brands seeking lower labour costs, including British Jaguar Land Rover, German Mercedes and Japanese Suzuki. But due to the export-oriented nature of their automotive sectors, catering in part to the US market, they are among those EU nations hardest-hit by the latest tariffs slated to kick in on August 7. Despite hailing Trump's comeback and visiting him twice at his Mar-a-Lago luxury estate last year, Orban -- his closest EU ally -- was not spared the pain. Neither were more favourable conditions extended to Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico, whose country is the world's largest automobile manufacturer per capita. According to analyst Matej Hornak, the incoming tariffs won't bode well. He warns of a drop in exports amounting to "several hundred million euros" and the loss of "10,000-12,000" jobs in the sector. After the announcement of the EU-US trade deal, Orban was quick to apportion blame to EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, saying Trump "ate" her "for breakfast". But in April, the mayor of the Hungarian city of Gyor, whose strong economic growth is closely linked to its car manufacturing plants, had already warned of possible cutbacks and layoffs. For the city, which is home to various global brands and more than a dozen different parts and component suppliers including Nemak, the fresh tariffs are a disaster. As one of the biggest employers in Hungary, German carmaker Volkswagen alone provides jobs for more than 12,000 people. Its main engine factory in Gyor produces some Audi-branded vehicles directly for the US market. The Hungarian government has said that it is still assessing the impact of the tariff rates, vowing that upcoming business deals with Washington could mitigate the negative effects of Trump's "America first" policy. But more headwinds are ahead for Hungary and Slovakia, said Brussels-based geopolitical analyst Botond Feledy. "When it comes to European dealmaking, Trump now prioritises more geopolitically influential figures -- the main option for smaller nations such as Slovakia and Hungary is to join forces with others," he told AFP. But the "aggressive posturing" in the same vein of Trump's protectionist policies both countries adopted in recent months have isolated them among fellow EU countries, making compromises difficult, the expert added. Moreover, the stakes are high for Orban, whose 15-year rule has recently been challenged by former government insider-turned-rival Peter Magyar ahead of elections scheduled for next spring. "Dissatisfaction with the standard of living has made voters more critical, which is also reflected in the popularity ratings of the governing parties," said economist Zoltan Pogatsa, adding that "Hungary has been in a state of near stagnation for many years now". This year's economic "flying start" touted by Orban did not materialise, with the government further lowering the country's growth goal from the initial 3.4 to one percent. "So far, Trump's second presidency has only impacted the Hungarian economy through his tariff policy, which has been negative," Pogatsa added. At the Nemak plant, a recent warning strike has led to management promising to sort out the unpredictable work schedules caused by the tariff changes, which were "unhealthy and physically unbearable" and made "family and private life become incompatible with work", said Laszlo. Some Audi vehicles manufactured in Gyor are exported to the United States AFP Orban during a visit to Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate during the 2024 US presidential campaign AFP US tariffs could cost up to 12,000 jobs in the Hungarian and Slovak auto sector, according to one analyst AFP Instead of a 'flying start' to the Hungarian economy promised by Orban the government has had to put price controls on some food products as it seeks to contain public anger over inflation ahead of elections next year AFP
Int'l Business Times
3 hours ago
- Int'l Business Times
Five Years After Beirut Port Blast, Lebanese Demand Justice
The loved ones of those killed in a catastrophic explosion at Beirut's port five years ago gathered to demand justice on the anniversary of the blast Monday, as Lebanon's president vowed to hold those responsible to account. The August 4, 2020 disaster was one of the world's largest non-nuclear explosions, and devastated swathes of the Lebanese capital, killing more than 220 people and injuring over 6,500. Authorities have said the blast was triggered by a fire in a warehouse where tonnes of ammonium nitrate fertiliser had been stored haphazardly for years after arriving by ship, despite repeated warnings to senior officials. Hundreds gathered in Beirut on Monday afternoon to mark the anniversary, some brandishing signs reading "No compromises on justice" and "The crime of August 4 was not an accident". Georgette Khoury, 68, was there to honour the memory of three of her loved ones who perished in the blast. "Five years have passed, but it still feels like the explosion just happened. It's a gaping wound in the heart of every Lebanese person," she said, attending the commemoration for the first time. "We demand justice, and if it is not delivered here, it will be served above." A few steps away, Youssef Romanos, 44, raised a photo of his neighbour, a nun killed in the explosion. "We are waiting for justice to take its course," he said. "It will not bring back our martyrs but it will be a relief." Judge Tarek Bitar resumed his investigation into the blast this year as Lebanon's balance of power shifted following a war between Israel and Hezbollah that weakened the Iran-backed militant group, which had spearheaded a campaign for Bitar's resignation. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Monday that the state was "committed to uncovering the whole truth, no matter the obstacles or how high the positions" involved. "The law applies to all, without exception," he added. "The blood of your loved ones will not be in vain," the president told victims' families, adding: "Justice is coming, accountability is coming." After resuming work following a more than two-year impasse, Bitar has finished questioning defendants and suspects, a judicial official told AFP on condition of anonymity. Those questioned include former prime minister Hassan Diab, as well as military and security officials, while several former ministers did not appear for questioning, the official said. Bitar is waiting for some procedures to be completed, including receiving responses from several Arab and European countries following a request for "information on specific incidents", the official added, without elaborating. The judge will then finalise the investigation and refer the file to the public prosecution for its opinion before he issues an indictment, the official said. President Aoun said "we are working with all available means to ensure the investigations are completed with transparency and integrity". Officials named in the investigation had filed a flurry of lawsuits seeking to prevent it from going forward. Nobody is currently in custody in relation to the case. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International said in a joint statement on Monday that "despite the resumption of the investigation, the road to justice remains littered with political and legal challenges". They urged authorities to ensure a comprehensive, unobstructed investigation that establishes "the facts and circumstances surrounding the explosion, encompassing the full chain of responsibility", whether domestic or international. Mariana Fodoulian from the association of victims' families said that "for five years, officials have been trying to evade accountability, always thinking they are above the law". "We're not asking for anything more than the truth," she told AFP. "We won't stop until we get comprehensive justice." On Sunday, Culture Minister Ghassan Salame said the port's gutted and partially collapsed wheat silos would be included on a list of historic buildings. Victims' families have long demanded their preservation as a memorial of the catastrophe. "The silos are the only witness to what happened on August 4," said Fodoulian.
DW
7 hours ago
- DW
India brushes off Trump tariff threat over Russian oil – DW – 08/04/2025
India has pushed back against US President Donald Trump's threat to impose higher tariffs on Indian goods. New Delhi condemned Western criticism of its buying oil from Moscow, vowing to protect its national interests. India on Monday denounced as unfair the mounting pressure from the United States and European Union over its continued purchases of Russian oil. Foreign Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said the country would safeguard its economic interests amid threats of steep tariffs from President Donald Trump. "The targeting of India is unjustified and unreasonable," said Jaiswal, asserting the country's sovereign right to secure energy supplies in line with its needs. "Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security," he added. Jaiswal also argued that India's imports began only after Western countries diverted traditional supplies to Europe following the outbreak of the Ukraine war. He also accused both the EU and the US of hypocrisy. "It is revealing that the very nations criticizing India are themselves indulging in trade with Russia," Jaiswal said. "Unlike our case, such trade is not even a vital national compulsion." To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Jaiswal pointed to ongoing Europe-Russia trade involving fertilizers, chemicals, iron and steel, machinery, and transport equipment. He also noted that the US continues to import Russian uranium hexafluoride for its nuclear industry, palladium for electric vehicles, and other industrial goods. US President Donald Trump has threatened to sharply increase tariffs on Indian goods, accusing New Delhi of profiting from discounted Russian oil while failing to support efforts to end the war in Ukraine. While Trump did not specify the exact rate, an existing 10% tariff on Indian products is expected to rise to 25% starting Thursday. The move, he said, was in response to India "buying massive amounts of Russian oil" and reselling it for profit, which he claimed fuels Moscow's war on Ukraine. "They don't care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine," Trump wrote on Truth Social. The move adds strain to a key trade relationship. The US is India's largest trading partner, with Indian exports to the US totaling $87.4 billion in 2024. India recorded a nearly $46 billion trade surplus with the US the same year. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
