Trump, Scholz Discuss “Return to Peace” in Europe Amid Tensions over Ukraine

US President-elect Donald Trump and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz have discussed their shared goal of achieving “a return to peace in Europe” during their first phone call since the US election, Al Jazeera reports, citing a German government spokesperson.

Steffen Hebestreit, Scholz’s spokesperson, revealed that the two leaders exchanged views on the German-American relationship and the current geopolitical challenges during the call on Sunday. Scholz underlined Germany’s commitment to maintaining the decades-long successful cooperation between the two nations.

Trump’s return to the White House is generating significant attention in Europe, particularly regarding its potential impact on the war in Ukraine. Trump has been critical of President Joe Biden’s support for Kyiv, claiming that he could have prevented the invasion and ended the conflict within 24 hours. His call with Scholz follows similar conversations with leaders of several smaller European nations, including French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.

This call is notable considering the history of strained relations between the two nations under Trump’s first presidency. Trump had accused Berlin of being a free-rider on US military protection and announced plans to reduce US troops stationed in Germany by 25%.

Scholz, who faces snap elections early next year following the collapse of his governing coalition, has openly criticized Trump’s divisive rhetoric and expressed his preference for Biden during the US election campaign.

Adding another layer of complexity to the situation, Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has openly welcomed the collapse of Scholz’s coalition, labeling him a “fool” on X, formerly Twitter. Musk has also suggested that he could join Trump’s administration as “secretary of cost-cutting.”

The billionaire entrepreneur has clashed with European officials and regulators over alleged violations of the Digital Services Act by X.