In 1965 Henry A. Kissinger, US-Secretary-of-State-to-be, published the German edition of his book „The Troubled Partnership“ under the title „Was wird aus der westlichen Allianz?“. This week, going through the library of the Herbert-and-Greta-Wehner-Foundation in Dresden, we discovered a copy of the book, containing a hand-written dedication which reads thus: „To Herbert Wehner – With warm good wishes and high regard“. This may refer to a longer, mind-opening discussion Kissinger had with Wehner in 1965 (cf. „Die Pläne von Willy Brandt entsetzten Kissinger“, https://www.welt.de/154191773).

Today, we think, (at least but not only) the opening sentence of Kissingers work is as valid as ever before: „The development of closer Atlantic relations was the greatest constructive act of American foreign policy since the end of World War II.“ (re-translated from German: „Die Entwicklung engerer atlantischer Beziehungen war die größte konstruktive Tat der amerikanischen Außenpolitik seit dem Ende des Zweiten Weltkrieges.“)

A few weeks before the US Presidential elections there is a President and candidate of the Republican party (Kissingers party!) trying to get re-elected who obiously is not able to act constructively. Europe, Germany as well as the U.S. have to fear not only a troubled partnership but eventually in the end no partnership at all. This would be a menace to peace on Earth. So the outcome of these elections is crucial to all of us.