By Sputnik

May 16, 2019 "Information Clearing House" -   Relations between the two allies, the US and the EU, particularly with Germany, have deteriorated since Washington withdrew from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, threatening the European firms there with sanctions and imposing higher import tariffs. Angela Merkel’s latest call to close ranks comes just ahead of Donald Trump’s decision on new duties.

In an interview with the German daily Zueddeutche Zeitung ahead of the European elections Chancellor Angela Merkel has urged Europe to unite and stand up to the US, Russia, and China. Amid the ongoing tussle with Washington over higher import tariffs and the US pulling out of the Iran deal, one of Europe’s most powerful politicians stated that “the old certainties of the postwar order no longer apply” expressing confidence that “Europe needs to reposition itself in a changed world”.

She admitted that Europe appears weak since the US withdrew from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and pointed out that the euro is struggling to counter US sanctions because it is not the world’s leading currency. She, however, praised the fact that Europe is not divided on this issue like it was about the Iraq war.

Merkel pointed out that Germany, France, and Britain have a different approach than the US and admitted that it shares common interests with Russia and China.