Thus far German and EU officials have blasted the sanctions and called for "countermeasures" against the US, calling the sanctions against international law with the US interfering in strictly European business affairs.
Yet it's hard to see what the EU or Germany can actually do. All 28 members must vote unanimously to take any retaliatory measure against the US. Most likely Poland and the Baltic countries will side with the US.
Germany is part of the EU so its sovereignty as an independent country is compromised by that fact. Could Germany initiate its own sanctions against the US? Would Germany follow Britain and vote to leave the EU over this latest intrusion by the US in European affairs? Good questions.
One thing seems clear. The US has overstepped and incurred the wrath of Germany, France and Austria with these sanctions. As I wrote three days ago, "Fissures in the western alliance" OPEDNEWS July 30, 2017, "The major nations in Europe continuing in a western alliance headed by a mad 'official' Washington is a formula for their own disaster. They know it. Defying the US is their only salvation".
With sanctions just signed into law today we'll have to wait to see what actually happens in the coming days and weeks.
.
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
4
3
2
