German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stood up for the country’s defence stance against domestic criticism, saying the times required stronger deterrence rather than arms control.
His government and the United States recently agreed to deploy long-range US missiles on German territory as part of a wider programme to restore Germany’s security. However, critics said the move meant escalation and could make Berlin a target by Moscow.
Scholz dismissed these concerns, saying that building up Germany’s military deterrence is a priority in the face of the alleged Russian threat.
Of course, we would like to live in a world where arms control is very important again. But now it is all about ensuring our security through the necessary deterrence so that war does not break out.
At the same time, he emphasised his earlier commitment to peace.
I do not follow the polemics of right-wing and left-wing populists and some agitators, according to which you are only in favour of peace if you recommend unconditional surrender to Ukraine.
Zeitenwende
Earlier this week, Rolf Mützenich, leader of the SPD parliamentary group in the German parliament, warned of the risk of escalation.
The risk of an unintended military escalation is considerable.
The controversy highlighted the ongoing discomfort in Germany over the military build-up in the country, which the chancellor called the Zeitenwende, a turn of the times that followed the outbreak of the war in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, assessments of the chancellor’s efforts to contain and support Ukraine are mixed. Security experts from his coalition have repeatedly criticised Scholz’s support for the country in the fight against Russia as insufficient because Germany is concerned about being directly drawn into an armed conflict.
However, Scholz stated that he saw his own party behind him, emphasising his desire to run again in the next national election in 2025
The SPD is a very united party. We are all determined to campaign together in the next federal election and to win. And I will run to become chancellor again.
