German president warns Trump’s return marks profound rupture in transatlantic ties

French President Emmanuel Macron points towards Germany's President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, right rear, as he talks with US President-elect Donald Trump in Notre Dame Cathedral as France's iconic cathedral is formally reopening its doors for the first time since a devastating fire nearly destroyed the 861-year-old landmark in 2019, Saturday Dec.7, 2024 in Paris ( Ludovic Marin, Pool via AP)

BERLIN -- German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said the start of U.S. President Donald Trump’s second term marked a rupture in German foreign relations that was as profound as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and required Germany to seek more independence.

“Just as I believe there will be no going back in relations with Russia before February 24, 2022, so too do I believe there will be no going back in transatlantic relations before January 20, 2025,” said Steinmeier, according to prepared remarks.

Germany had to take the lessons it learned in extricating itself from “excessive dependencies” on Russia and apply them to the United States, particularly in defense and technology, he was due to say at a foreign office event in Berlin on Tuesday.

As president, Steinmeier’s role is largely ceremonial, influencing society through his role as state representative.

Germany has placed an emphasis on creating alternatives to U.S.-dominated technology as concerns grow over U.S. access.

“We know that this technological lead means not only foreign policy power, but also the power to influence our domestic politics through digital platforms and social media,” said Steinmeier.

The spat between the Pentagon and Anthropic over safety guardrails surrounding the latter’s artificial intelligence could be a wake-up call, or even an opportunity, for Europe, he added.

“Europe as a technology hub has talent, markets, opportunities and, importantly, ethical standards. We should build on these,” he said.

(Reporting by Andreas Rinke and Miranda Murray; Editing by Ludwig Burger)