World headed for turbulent times with Trump at helm
Germany's foreign minister yesterday predicted turbulent times ahead for the world following Donald Trump's accession to power in the United States.
"With the election of Donald Trump, the world of the 20th century has definitely been overtaken," Frank-Walter Steinmeier wrote in a commentary published in the Bild am Sonntag newspaper.
Steinmeier, 60, has emerged in recent months as the German government's most strident detractor of Trump.
In his article, Steinmeier warned that the world was headed "for turbulent times."
"In these times of fresh global disorder this will go further...there is a lot at stake."
But Steinmeier said he would seek dialogue with the Trump administration and outline "our position, our values and our interests."
He said he was "certain to find interlocutors in Washington who know that big countries also needs partners."
Meanwhile, French President Francois Hollande warned Saturday that protectionism is "the worst response," in a seeming allusion to the "America First" policies of new US president.
Hollande made the comment on the first day of a Latin American tour that is taking him to Chile and Colombia -- one of his last foreign trips before stepping down after April-May elections choose his successor.
"We are utterly opposed to protectionism. We favor regulated globalization so that there are health standards, social standards... in the exchanges between countries, between regions," the French leader said in a joint news conference with Chilean counterpart Michelle Bachelet.
Protectionism, he said, "prevents trade, damages growth and affects employment, including in countries that forge protectionism and especially erect it."
Although he did not mention any countries specifically, the message appeared to be directed at the United States, where Trump has vowed to establish a "buy American, hire American" national policy.
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