Everything is a political weapon since Trump’s re-election, says Germany’s ex-economy minister

Former German Economy Minister Robert Habeck argues that the world has entered an era of "weaponizing everything" since Donald Trump's return to the White House. Habeck suggests this shift extends beyond the weaponization of energy, seen during Russia's invasion of Ukraine, to include tariffs and technology. He contends that previous German governments were naive in believing gas would not be used politically, leading them to build Nord Stream pipelines and sell strategic reserves to Gazprom. These actions, according to Habeck, ultimately made Germany vulnerable to Russia's actions before the invasion of Ukraine. The comments highlight concerns about the increasing use of various tools for political leverage on the global stage.