Chancellor Olaf Scholz sees Germany as playing a key role in stopping Russia’s “imperial” claims in Europe. “In the manner of an imperial power, Russia is now attempting to move borders by force and to split the world again into blocs and spheres of influence,” wrote Scholz in a guest article for the political magazine “Foreign Affairs”. The world must not allow this.
“We must stop Russia’s revanchist imperialism. Germany now has the essential task of taking responsibility as one of the main guarantors for security in Europe,” added the Social Democrat under the headline “Global turning point”.
Germany is striving to become a guarantor of European security and is also ready, together with others, to give security guarantees to Ukraine after the end of the war. Therefore, the Bundeswehr would have to be modernized, the European armaments industry strengthened, the military presence on NATO’s eastern flank increased and the Ukrainian army trained and equipped. In his contribution, Scholz referred to German arms deliveries to Ukraine. Germany is also training 5,000 Ukrainian soldiers – which accounts for a third of the EU training mission.
He also confirmed that the federal government would procure US F-35 fighter jets for the German armed forces. “Germany is sticking to its commitment under the NATO agreements on nuclear sharing, including through the purchase of F-35 fighter jets with dual deployment capabilities.”
For decades, Germany has been involved in NATO’s nuclear deterrence with fighter jets. They are stationed at the Büchel air base in the Rhineland-Palatinate Eifel region in order to use the US nuclear bombs stored there in an emergency. The Tornadoes currently intended for this purpose are now to be replaced by the more modern F-35 stealth jets.
In view of the debate as to whether one could return to a pre-war peace order in Europe after the war in Ukraine, Scholz emphasized: “When Putin gave the order to attack, he destroyed a European and international peace architecture that had been built over decades.”
Referring to Ukrainian cities like Mariupol, Irpin, Cherson, Izyum, where war crimes were committed, he declared: “These places will forever remind the world of Russia’s crimes – and the perpetrators must be held accountable.” Scholz made a ” Revisionist Russia” is also responsible for the unsuccessful Minsk peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia after 2014.
In the article, which was published in German and English, Scholz also warned against China’s isolation and the formation of new blocs in the world. The chancellor disagreed with the assessment that the world is moving into a new era of US-China bipolarity. “I do not share this view,” he wrote. During the phase of globalization after the Cold War, China also became a “global player”, as it had been for long periods of time earlier in world history.
“China’s rise does not justify Beijing’s isolation or restrictions on cooperation,” Scholz wrote. “But at the same time, China’s growing power does not justify claims to hegemony in Asia and beyond,” he added.
During a visit to Beijing, he therefore also expressed his concerns about the growing insecurity in the South China Sea and in the Taiwan Strait and pointed out China’s position on human rights and individual freedom rights. “Respect for fundamental rights and freedoms can never be an ‘internal matter’ of a single state, for all Member States of the United Nations are committed to upholding these rights and freedoms.”
At the same time, the Chancellor called for a level playing field for European and Chinese companies. “China is doing too little in this regard and has clearly embarked on a path towards isolation and away from openness,” criticized Scholz.
He pointed to other regions of the world now developing. These regions have every right to seize the opportunities presented by globalization and also to demand a greater say in global issues. Germany and the EU invested in new partnerships with countries in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Latin America. The background is also the attempt to make the German and European economy more independent of China.
A majority of Germans believe Olaf Scholz’s trip to China to be correct. At the same time, 82 percent complain that they are too dependent on China economically. Janina Mütze from the opinion research institute Civey gives an impression of the mood on current foreign policy.
Source: WORLD
