Trump said he'd wait before committing to staying in the climate deal
Merkel said Europeans have to fight for their own future
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German Chancellor Angela Merkel said her experience at recent international summits featuring US President Donald Trump showed her Europe can’t “completely” rely on the United States and other longstanding allies.
“The times when we could completely rely on others are, to an extent, over,” Merkel said at a campaign event in Munich.
“I experienced that in the last a few days, and therefore I can only say that we Europeans must really take our fate into our own hands, of course in friendship with the United States and in friendship with Great Britain and as good neighbors wherever it is possible, also with Russia and also with all the other countries,” Merkel said.
“But we need to know that we have to fight for our own future and destiny as Europeans.”
Steffen Seibert, Merkel’s spokesman, addressed the comments at a Monday news conference in Berlin.
“The chancellor’s words stand on their own,” Seibert said. “They were clear and comprehensible.”
Nevertheless, Seibert said Merkel remained “a deeply convinced trans-Atlanticist.”
“Those who have accompanied Chancellor Merkel journalistically for a long time know how important the German-American relations are,” Seibert said. “They are a pillar for our foreign and security policy and Germany will continue to work on strengthening those relationships. Second point: Chancellor Merkel has said before that Europe has its fate in its own hands.”
Wary meeting
Trump failed to reassure European leaders about his commitment to combating Russian aggression with his remarks at NATO headquarters in Brussels.
The speech, delivered last Thursday resurfaced questions about Trump’s position toward Russia and drew attention again to the federal investigation in Washington.
In the address he pointedly instructed member nations to increase their defense spending.
NATO leaders chafed at Trump’s lecture, which did not acknowledge member states’ recent increases in military spending nor did it include a reaffirmed US commitment to the alliance’s mutual defense pledge, in light of Trump’s disparaging comments about the alliance during his campaign.
Then at the G7 summit on Friday and Saturday, leaders including Merkel failed to convince Trump to commit to stay in the Paris climate deal.
Trump tweeted from Sicily on Saturday that he would make a final decision next week, and the US took a separate stance on climate from the other nations in the official G7 communique.
Photos: President Trump's first foreign trip
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President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump board Air Force One on Saturday, May, 27, 2017, at Naval Air Station Sigonella in Italy. They were headed back to the United States after a nine-day trip to the Middle East and Europe.
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President Trump greets people on May 27, after speaking to US troops at Naval Air Station Sigonella.
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President Trump addresses US troops and their families on May 27, at the Sigonella Naval Air Station.
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President Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrive on May 27, to address US military personnel and families at Naval Air Station Sigonella.
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Leaders of the G-7 and some African nations pose for a photo on May 27, on the second day of the G-7 summit in Taormina, Italy.
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President Trump gestures on May 27, during a G-7 session.
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President Donald Trump and his wife, Melania, arrive for a concert of the La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra while in Taormina, Italy, on Friday, May 26. The Trumps are in Italy for a two-day G-7 summit.
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Trump and other leaders pose for a group photo at the G-7 summit on May 26. From left are European Council President Donald Tusk, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Trump, Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, French President Emmanuel Macron, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, British Prime Minister Theresa May and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.
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Trump and Trudeau walk together after the group photo.
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G-7 leaders congregate during a walking tour on May 26.
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Trump embraces new French President Emmanuel Macron on May 26.
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The leaders watch a French air squadron.
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Melania Trump arrives at the City Hall in Catania, Italy, on May 26. She was wearing a $51,500 Dolce & Gabbana jacket as she met with other spouses of G-7 leaders.
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Trump shakes hands with Macron in Brussels, Belgium, on Thursday, May 25. They were attending a NATO summit as the alliance officially opened a new $1 billion headquarters.
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Trump stands with other world leaders during a NATO photo shoot on May 25.
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Trump speaks with British Prime Minister Theresa May during a working dinner at NATO headquarters.
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Trump stands next to German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the NATO summit.
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Melania Trump visits the Magritte Museum in Brussels with Amelie Derbaudrenghien, partner of Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel.
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A girl takes a selfie with Melania Trump at a children's hospital in Brussels on May 25.
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Trump meets with Macron in Brussels.
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Trump walks with European Council President Donald Tusk, center, and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, right, after they met at the European Council in Brussels on May 25.
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Trump, third from right, attends a meeting with leaders at the European Council.
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Trump speaks with King Philippe of Belgium as Queen Mathilde and Melania Trump chat during a reception at the Royal Palace in Brussels on Wednesday, May 24.
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Tusk talks to Trump as he welcomes him in Brussels.
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Trump stands with Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel while the national anthem is played during Trump's arrival in Belgium on May 24.
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Protesters in Brussels demonstrate with effigies of Trump and Michel on May 24.
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Trump shakes hands with Italian President Sergio Mattarella in Rome on May 24.
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Pope Francis stands with Trump and his family during a private audience at the Vatican on May 24. Joining the President, from left, are Trump's son-in-law, White House senior adviser Jared Kushner; Trump's daughter and adviser Ivanka Trump; and first lady Melania Trump.
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Trump and the Pope exchange gifts. Trump presented the Pope with a first-edition set of Martin Luther King's writings. The Pope gave Trump an olive-tree medal that the Pope said symbolizes peace.
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Trump and his wife look at the ceilings of the Sistine Chapel.
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Trump speaks to reporters in Rome during a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, right, on May 24.
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The first lady visits a pediatric hospital in Vatican City on May 24.
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Melania Trump arrives at the Vatican on May 24. With Vatican protocol in mind, she wore a black veil and long-sleeved black dress draped down to her calf. Ivanka Trump wore a similar outfit with a larger veil.
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President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wave at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem on Tuesday, May 23. Trump gave a speech there, reaffirming his country's commitment to Israel while also holding up Judaism's historical ties to the United States.
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People take pictures of the message Trump wrote at Yad Vashem, the Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem, on May 23.
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With the help of US Marines, Trump and his wife lay a wreath at Yad Vashem.
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Trump meets with Mahmoud Abbas, the President of the Palestinian Authority, on May 23. Trump met with Israeli leaders the day before and said he believes both sides "are ready to reach for peace."
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A Palestinian security official takes position before the arrival of Trump's convoy in Bethlehem, West Bank.
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Israeli and American activists hold signs Monday, May 22, during an anti-Trump protest next to the US embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel.
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Melania Trump and Israeli first lady Sara Netanyahu speak to children during their visit to the Hadassah hospital in Jerusalem on May 22.
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Trump talks to reporters as he meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on May 22. Trump sought to rebut claims that he damaged Israeli intelligence capabilities by revealing highly classified information to Russian operatives earlier this month. "Just so you understand, I never mentioned the word or the name Israel," Trump told reporters as he began the second leg of his first foreign tour.
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Trump stands in the Western Wall plaza. To his left, in black, is Shmuel Rabinowitz, the rabbi of the Western Wall.
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First lady Melania Trump, in white, visits the Western Wall. At far left is Ivanka Trump.
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The President and first lady plant a tree in Jerusalem with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin.
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Trump is welcomed by Netanyahu upon arriving in Tel Aviv on May 22. Trump started his trip with two days in Saudi Arabia.
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On the way to Tel Aviv, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson speaks with reporters aboard Air Force One.
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While in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Trump attends the inauguration ceremony for the Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology. Joining him here are Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, center, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, left.
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Trump speaks in Riyadh during the Arab Islamic American Summit on Sunday, May 21. Trump looked to make it clear that the United States is not at war with Islam. "This is not a battle between different faiths, different sects or different civilizations," he said. "This is a battle between barbaric criminals who seek to obliterate human life, and decent people of all religions who seek to protect it. This is a battle between good and evil."
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Trump sits at the summit, which included leaders from 55 Muslim-majority countries. He urged them to do more to eradicate terrorist groups that claim the mantle of Islam. "We can only overcome this evil if the forces of good are united and strong and if everyone in this room does their fair share and fulfills their part of the burden," Trump said. "Muslim-majority countries must take the lead in stamping out radicalization."
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Trump poses with other leaders at the Arab Islamic American Summit.
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Photos: President Trump's first foreign trip
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Trump meets with other heads of state in Riyadh on May 21.
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Trump speaks with the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Gen. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
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First lady Melania Trump chats with children during a visit to the American International School in Riyadh on May 21.
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Evan Vucci/AP
While in Riyadh, President Trump meets with Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa on May 21.
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Evan Vucci/AP
President Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi share a laugh during a meeting on May 21. El-Sisi complimented Trump on his "unique personality that is capable of doing the impossible." Trump exchanged pleasantries back, praising el-Sisi's shoes.
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Evan Vucci/AP
Trump is handed a sword during a welcoming ceremony at Riyadh's Murabba Palace on Saturday, May 20.
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Trump sits with members of his staff and Cabinet before a meeting with Saudi King Salman on May 20.
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Trump and King Salman take part in a signing ceremony at the Saudi Royal Court in Riyadh on May 20. The two leaders oversaw the signing of a defense deal worth nearly $110 billion.
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The Trumps look at a display of modern art at the Saudi Royal Court in Riyadh.
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King Salman presents Trump with a gilded necklace and medal, the country's highest honor. The distinction also was bestowed upon Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush.
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The first lady chats with Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Nayef at the medal ceremony on May 20.
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Ivanka Trump attends the medal ceremony.
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Trump meets with King Salman after arriving in Riyadh on May 20.
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Soldiers on horseback carry the US and Saudi flags as they escort Trump to the Saudi Royal Court in Riyadh.
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Trump is welcomed by King Salman after arriving at the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.
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The Trumps take part in the welcome ceremony.
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The President and first lady wave from Air Force One after landing in Riyadh.
Stark contrast
Merkel met with former US President Barack Obama in Berlin prior to the NATO summit on Thursday.
Along with Obama, Merkel has been one of the most prominent voices from Western nations countering nationalist movements of the kind represented by the Brexit campaign and Trump’s policies.
At the Sunday campaign event, Merkel said that Europeans would continue to work in friendship with the US, the UK and others wherever possible, including Russia, but stressed her view that Europeans must be self-reliant.
“We need to know that we have to fight for our own future and destiny as Europeans,” Merkel said.
She went on to express solidarity with the UK against terror, following a deadly attack at a concert in Manchester, England, last week.
If her party is successful in German elections this fall, Merkel would stand for a fourth term as chancellor. Merkel closed out her Munich speech drinking a mug of beer surrounded by supporters doing the same.
CNN’s Sara Mazloumasaki and Nadine Schmidt contributed to this report.