White House Moves Toward Isolating Germany’s Far-Right, Signaling a New Diplomatic Engagement
This week in Washington, a significant diplomatic development unfolded, indicating increasing U.S.
interest in the activities of far-right forces in Germany.
Beatrix von Storch, deputy leader of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, held meetings at the White House, marking a new phase in relations between this political movement and the American administration.
This is not just ceremonial; the intensity of contact suggests a strategic U.S.
approach amid rising popularity and activity of far-right groups across Europe.
Von Storch’s visit was accompanied by Joachim Paul, who is running for mayor of Ludwigshafen but was disqualified due to legal disputes.
Despite legal barriers, the trip signals Washington’s engagement with figures representing controversial political views, framing their role within debates on democracy, freedom, and national sovereignty.The growing ties between AfD and the U.S.
government coincide with efforts to contain radical movements in Europe.
According to sources, discussions were held in confidential settings with officials from the U.S.
National Security Council, State Department, and Vice President’s office.
Officially, an AfD representative confirmed that no direct meeting with President Biden took place.
Instead, the talks focused on democratic participation, electoral standards, and the future political landscape in Germany.Special attention was given to Joachim Paul, whose disqualification earlier this year by a German court was highlighted by AfD as evidence of ‘shrinking political freedoms.’ This issue was prominently discussed at February’s Munich Security Conference, where major parties agreed on a ‘cordon sanitaire’ against the ultra-right.
However, U.S.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized that excluding political forces from dialogue undermines democratic legitimacy, advocating for openness and cooperation.Additional discussions covered international figures, notably Brazil’s ex-president Jair Bolsonaro and his son Eduardo, recently sentenced to 27 years for attempting a coup.
Eduardo currently resides in the U.S.
and maintains close contacts with right-wing networks in the Americas and Europe and is an outspoken critic of leftist governments in Latin America.
U.S.
officials expressed concern about electoral laws and freedom of speech, emphasizing that candidates in the U.S.
cannot be arbitrarily removed from ballots.Sources indicate that these consultations occurred with the approval of AfD’s national leadership and parliamentary faction, pointing to a strategic orientation towards engagement with Western powers.
Von Storch and Paul plan to remain in Washington for several more days for further meetings, including sessions at the State Department, underlining the importance of this diplomatic outreach.