Kerry says Trump wrong to criticise 'courageous' Merkel

LONDON, Tuesday

Outgoing US Secretary of State John Kerry said Monday that President-elect Donald Trump had been wrong to criticise “courageous” German leader Angela Merkel, calling his remarks “inappropriate”.

Stopping over in London on the closing stages of his final diplomatic tour just four days before Trump is due to take office, Mr Kerry gave an interview to CNN International.

Asked about the furore surrounding an interview by Mr Trump with Britain’s The Times and Germany’s Bild, Mr Kerry defended the European Union, Ms Merkel and Germany’s refugee policy.

“I thought, frankly, it was inappropriate for a president-elect of the United States to be stepping in to the politics of other countries in a quite direct manner,” Mr Kerry told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour.

“He’ll have to speak for that,” Mr Kerry warned. “As of Friday he’s responsible for that relationship.

“But I think we have to be very careful about suggesting that one of the strongest leaders in Europe — and one of the most important in respect of where we are heading — made one mistake or another.”

In his interview, Mr Trump declared Nato “obsolete”, praised Britain’s decision to quit the European Union and dubbed Ms Merkel’s generous policy towards refugees “catastrophic”.

Mr Kerry said: “I think she was extremely courageous and I don’t think it amounts to that characterisation at all.”

Mr Kerry warned that Europe’s enemies, including Russia, are trying to divide the West and recalled that President Barack Obama’s administration had strongly opposed Brexit.

FAREWELL DINNER

While in London, Mr Kerry was to have a private farewell dinner with Britain’s top diplomat Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and give farewell interviews to media.

On Tuesday, he is due to fly to the World Economic Forum in Davos for a final set of discussions with members of the global business and political elite.

Here are Mr Trump’s thoughts on the key issues:

Deal with Russia? Mr Trump suggested he may try to strike a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin over his nuclear arsenal. “They have sanctions on Russia — let’s see if we can make some good deals with Russia,” he said. “I think nuclear weapons should be way down and reduced very substantially, that’s part of it.” Merkel’s ‘mistake’: Despite expressing respect for Angela Merkel, Mr Trump criticised the German leader’s “catastrophic” decision to open Europe’s doors to those fleeing violence in the Middle East.

“I think she made one very catastrophic mistake and that was taking all of these illegals, you know taking all of the people from wherever they come from. And nobody even knows where they come from”.

Mr Trump said he would take office with a policy of “trusting” both Merkel and President Putin, but warned: “Let’s see how long that lasts. It may not last long at all.” Syria: The incoming leader slammed Mr Putin’s intervention in Syria, calling it “a very bad thing” that had led to a “terrible humanitarian situation”.

CHEMICAL WEAPONS

He also appeared to criticise outgoing president Barack Obama’s failure to respond after the Syrian regime overstepped his “line in the sand” by using chemical weapons, saying it was now “too late”.

Brexit: Mr Trump said he believes that Britain’s departure from the EU is going “to end up being a great thing”, and that he would seek a swift trade deal once Brexit is finalised.

“I’m a big fan of the UK, we’re gonna work very hard to get it done quickly and done properly,” he said. European Union: The billionaire businessman was less enthusiastic about the EU, calling it a “vehicle for Germany” and predicting that more countries could depart.

“I think people want their own identity, so if you ask me, others, I believe others will leave.”

“Look, the EU was formed, partially, to beat the United States on trade, OK? So, I don’t really care whether it’s separate or together, to me it doesn’t matter.”

Iran: Mr Trump refused to say whether he would tear up Obama’s nuclear agreement with Iran.

“I’m not happy with the Iran deal, I think it’s one of the worst deals ever made, I think it’s one of the dumbest deals I’ve ever seen, one of the dumbest.”