Kerry denounces Trump's comments on Germany
Outgoing US Secretary of State John Kerry says President-elect Donald Trump should not “step into” the politics of Germany or any other country.
Kerry made the remarks in London where he was spending the closing stages of his final diplomatic tour on Monday, just four days before Trump takes office.
Trump said Sunday that the EU was “dominated” by Germany and that the UK made a “smart” decision last year to leave the bloc.
“You look at the European Union and it is Germany; basically, a vehicle for Germany. That’s why I thought the UK was so smart in getting out,” said Trump in an interview for The Times.
Kerry, however, called Trump’s remarks "inappropriate," also saying he had been wrong to criticize the "courageous" German leader, Angela Merkel, over her immigration policies.
"I thought, frankly, it was inappropriate for a president-elect of the United States to be stepping into the politics of other countries in a quite direct manner," he told CNN.
"He'll have to speak for that," Kerry warned. "As of Friday he's responsible for that relationship.”
Trump criticized Merkel for the refugee crisis in Europe, saying she made a “catastrophic” mistake by accepting thousands of refugees.
But Kerry defended Merkel, saying, "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."
"I think she was extremely courageous and I don't think it amounts to that characterization at all."
He also warned that Russia, which he called Europe’s enemy, along with some other countries want to divide the West, reminding President Barack Obama's strong opposition to Brexit.
On June 23, 52 percent of Britons voted to leave the 28-member bloc, sending shockwaves throughout the world.
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