If Trump leaves, Germany will have to completely reorient itself

According to Fischer, the immediate question for Germany is: “How do you deal with American bases on German soil?” At the same time, the country must completely rethink its defense capabilities. “That would also mean that all the capabilities that the Americans are currently bringing into the alliance would have to be replaced,” said Fischer. These include, above all, reconnaissance and modern weapon systems “that Europeans (…) cannot produce themselves”.

As a result, Europe would face a historic challenge. “The bottom line is a complete realignment of German and European defense and security policy,” says Fischer. He sees a big problem here: “You have to be honest: we would not be able to implement this quickly in Europe or in Germany at the moment.”

Fischer warns of a power vacuum due to NATO withdrawal

The consequence would be a dangerous power vacuum. “That would of course mean a certain vacuum,” warns Fischer – with regard to Russia, he adds: “I think they would be relatively happy if something like that happened.”

In the long term, Europe could find itself in a situation that has not existed for decades: “That Europeans will be completely on their own again for the first time after the end of the Second World War.” At the same time, “there would be war on our border in the East” without the “direct Protection of the Americans that we (…) through NATO could retrieve”.