HANOVER, Germany U.S. President Barack Obama on Monday said the United States
needed a strong, united Europe to maintain international order, and he urged European
allies to increase defense spending to address Islamic State and other security threats.
Wrapping up a trip to Germany that has focused on boosting trade ties, Obama pleaded
with Europeans to look past the multiple crises facing their nations and maintain the
unity that had brought peace to their continent.
His comments came after an earlier trip to London, where the American president urged
Britain to stay in the 28-nation European Union, boosting efforts by Prime Minister
David Cameron to avoid a so-called "Brexit" that opponents warn could trigger damaging
political and economic consequences.
"I've come here today to the heart of Europe to say that the United States and the entire
world needs a strong and prosperous and democratic and united Europe," Obama said
during a visit to a trade fair in the northern Germany city Of Hanover, drawing applause
from his audience.
Obama said worries over Russia's annexation of Crimea and slow economic growth
particularly in southern Europe, had led to questions about integration on the continent
and sparked destructive politics that stoked fears about immigrants and people with
different religions.
An influx of migrants fleeing the civil war in Syria has heightened tensions within the
bloc and put pressure on German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the preeminent leader in
Europe, whose initial open door policy hurt her domestic political standing.
Obama's rare two-day trip to the trade fair was seen as a sign Of support for a leader with
whom he has forged close ties ahead of German elections next year.
"DEFINING MOMENT"
It also allowed him to put his support for Merkel and Cameron in the wider context Of
Europe's role in the world.
"This is a defining moment, and what happens on this continent has consequences for
people around the globe," Obama said on Monday.
"If a unified, peaceful, liberal, pluralistic, free-market Europe begins to doubt itself,
begins to question the progress that's been made over the last several decades, then we
can't expect the progress that is just now taking hold in many places around the world
will continue
Obama has spoken out against similar trends in the United States. He makes no secret of
his disdain for Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump, who has proposed
building a wall on the U.S. border with Mexico and temporarily banning Muslims from
entering the United States.
Obama needs support from European allies to handle foreign policy challenges in Russia
and the Middle East, and he used his platform in Hanover to announce deployment of an
additional 250 U.S. forces to Syria.
But the president said Europe generally could do more to prepare for its own defense and
to fight Islamic State. He repeated his call that NATO members step up their
contributions and warned of a tendency to get complacent about defense needs.
"We need to stay nimble and make sure our forces are inter-operable and invest in new
capabilities like cyber defense and missile defense,- Obama said.
"That's why every NATO member should be contributing its full share, 2 percent of GDP,
towards our common security - something that doesn't always happen and, I'll be honest,
sometimes Europe has been complacent about its own defense."
Response:
As our world seems to be crumbling around us, with an increase of terrorist attacks and overall disunity throughout the world, it is admirable for Obama to speak up on these matters in Europe. Europe and the United States make up the majority of leading world powers. As Obama speaks he is only trying to bring attention to the disunity in the world. Through this unity there will be better protection and a safe guard when attacks come, especially as the Islamic State is near their borders. The writer seems to be in support of Obama's speech as he proves his ideas to be against those of Donald Trump, which the writer was clearly against. The author is writing this piece to show that Obama is correct when he talk about the strength that comes from world powers working together to defeat or defend the world. It seems that is their job in the world; to protect and fight back against the corruption.
Rampton,
Roberta. "In Germany, Obama Urges Europe to Stay United for Good of the
World."
Reuters. Thomson Reuters, 25 Apr. 2016. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.
<http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-germany-obama-europe-idUSKCN0XM1FP>.
