"Frequently Dangerous" - Greens and SPD strictly against European nuclear deterrence

Wolfgang Schäuble causes an uproar in the traffic light coalition.

"Frequently Dangerous" - Greens and SPD strictly against European nuclear deterrence

Wolfgang Schäuble causes an uproar in the traffic light coalition. The former, but exceptionally long-standing CDU top politician calls for nuclear deterrence "at the European level". In an interview with WELT AM SONNTAG, Schäuble suggested German co-financing of French nuclear capacities and a kind of European say in dealing with French nuclear weapons.

The Greens, currently the governing party with the greatest approval in the polls, are horrified. Group Vice President Agnieszka Brugger raises serious allegations: "The demand for nuclear armament in Europe is extremely dangerous, irresponsible and would be a massive violation of German obligations under international law." Of course, in these difficult times you also have to do more militarily in the EU and in NATO for your own protection and do the defense of the allies.

The move considered by Schäuble would be more than just playing with fire, ignoring the huge risks associated with nuclear weapons. It would also be a blatant breach of the important non-proliferation treaty.”

While the federal government is trying to strengthen this treaty and NATO, like the USA, is rightly curbing the danger of a nuclear escalation, “the Union can think of nothing better than to stir up panic and with such a dangerous proposal even target the war criminal Putin playing hands,” criticizes Brugger.

The chancellor party SPD also reacted with strict rejection. Nils Schmidt, foreign policy spokesman for the parliamentary group, says: "Wolfgang Schäuble's proposal is unsuitable: First of all, France has repeatedly made it very clear that it wants to decide independently and sovereignly on the possible use of nuclear weapons. That has to be respected.” In addition, French nuclear weapons are not suitable for protecting the whole of Europe.

“A massive nuclear armament would be necessary, which nobody wants. We should also think of our European allies: if Germany and France pushed ahead unilaterally, the impression would be given that the two countries only wanted to protect themselves. In the worst case, the result would be a divided and thus weakened Europe.” For the SPD politician, there is “no alternative to the deterrence organized by NATO, which is guaranteed by US nuclear weapons”.

The opposition Left Party takes a similar view. Sevim Dagdelen, Chairwoman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Bundestag, criticizes: "This attempt to turn Germany into a nuclear power through the back door is extremely dangerous, adventurous and a threat to peace." the two German states and the four victorious powers of the Second World War on the way to German reunification in 1990.

"Anyone who is now striving for nuclear weapons on France's side is canceling this treaty and playing with fire," says Dagdelen, going even further: "These great power fantasies from the Union are also a threat to security in Europe. Instead of German megalomania, Germany should work for nuclear disarmament, join the UN Treaty on the Ban on Nuclear Weapons and finally implement the decision of the Bundestag in 2010 to withdraw US nuclear weapons from Rhineland-Palatinate.”

Because Schäuble's statements apparently allow enormously far-reaching interpretations, here is his exact formulation again in context. Schäuble said that “nuclear deterrence is also needed at European level. France has this. In our own interest, we Germans must make a financial contribution to the French nuclear power in return for a joint nuclear deterrent. That means: France has a reasonable claim that we pay a larger share for this deterrence,” said Schäuble.

“At the same time, we have to enter into more strategic planning with Paris. I know that this will not be an easy debate in Germany. In any case, the European defense capacity is inconceivable without the nuclear dimension. What France has to do is that everything has to fit into NATO.”

In WELT AM SONNTAG, Schäuble, who in 1990 was the negotiator for the Federal Republic of Germany on the unification treaty with the GDR, spoke out in favor of far-reaching decisions being made in the EU in the future, even against the will of many member states, including Germany.

“I have always been in favor of introducing majority voting. Even as finance minister, I myself argued against unanimity at European level on tax issues. That cost me some sympathy in my party. Unanimity at European level is evil.”

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