There are “ways to be proactive … without taking gratuitous shots at President Trump that don’t actually help,” he said.
Be nice to Trump
Instead, European leaders should follow the example of NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, who has been careful not to anger Trump by backing the war against Iran. “Working with President Trump, being complimentary, being enthusiastic, because … he is doing them a service,” is the approach they should take, Volker said.
He also called on German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to turn up the charm on Trump. Germany has not restricted the use of its crucial Ramstein air base and Merz has not clashed with the U.S. president, although he has observed that relations with the U.S. are “just difficult” at the moment.
Merz has been more circumspect with the president than Starmer, and Trump has not retaliated against him as he has with the British prime minister. “Unlike Keir Starmer, where President Trump seems to like to go after him a little bit, to poke him a little bit, he doesn’t do that with Merz personally,” Volker said.
Merz has invited Trump to visit the birthplace of his grandfather in western Germany. If that happens, “I would just make sure that President Trump comes away from it feeling that he’s been shown respect, because that’s what he craves.”
Volker also defended Trump’s positions on Iran, which have alarmed many European leaders. The president has shifted dramatically from proclaiming an end to the fighting to threatening to “wipe out” Iranian civilization and destroying the country’s civilian infrastructure.
“He is trying to use harsh rhetoric and extreme positions to demonstrate strength and toughness in machismo and get the Iranians to pay attention,” Volker said.