Germany’s health minister, Karl Lauterbach, has claim he will push for the United States to rejoin the World Health Organization (WHO) after former President Donald Trump announced his intention to withdraw again.
As a senior figure in Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democratic Party, Lauterbach stressed the global stakes involved.
“The new US President’s announcement to withdraw from the World Health Organisation is a serious blow to the international fight against global health crises,” he remarked. “We will try to persuade Donald Trump to reconsider this decision.”
While European leaders have largely reacted quietly to Trump’s return to the White House, some of his early executive orders have sparked strong criticism. One of the sharpest rebukes came from Robert Habeck, a leading member of Germany’s Green Party and candidate for chancellor in the snap federal elections scheduled for February. Habeck blasted Trump’s decision to exit the Paris Climate Agreement once more, labeling it a “historic failure.”
“What is happening in the USA is the beginning of a historic failure,” Habeck said. He called the move “fatal” for global climate protection, warning, “If we do not act, we will ultimately have failed historically.”
In response, Habeck urged Germany and Europe to double down on their climate efforts. He highlighted the importance of developing green technologies within the European Union and reducing dependence on US energy exports. “In a world in which we have to expect energy supply chains to be exploited for power politics, energy dependency is always a problem,” he cautioned.
Habeck also pointed out that Trump’s policies could potentially target Europe with tariffs, but he urged the EU to stay true to its principles and avoid retaliatory measures. However, he added, “Europe is prepared, should the US impose tariffs. We shouldn’t believe that what is happening there can be a model for us.”
Germany’s leadership appears ready to confront Trump’s approach to both global health and climate change, signaling a strong commitment to international cooperation and green policies despite the renewed challenges posed by his administration.
