Merkel is right about Trump – so where does that leave Britain?

Angela Merkel has never been a showboating politician. Public speaking isn’t her forte – she prefers to work behind the scenes. That’s why her latest speech has made such big waves, on both sides of the Atlantic. The Washington Post said it marked the beginning of a ‘new chapter in US-European relations.’ The New York Times called it a ‘potentially seismic shift.’ Seasoned US diplomat Richard Haas described it as ‘a watershed’ in America’s relationship with Europe. So what did Merkel say? What did she mean by it? And what are the implications for Germany, and for Britain?

Uttered by any other politician, Merkel’s speech last Sunday might not be such big news, but this is a woman who likes to keep her head down, and rarely says anything sensational – or even memorable, for that matter. Hence, on the rare occasions when she actually says something notable, the impact is considerable – and this time, it’s immense.