Chancellor candidates on foreign policy: Between dialogue and hardship

In a discussion in the ARD capital studio the Chancellor candidates Baerbock, Laschet and Scholz had the opportunity to position themselves in terms of foreign policy. They became particularly clear on the subject of Nord Stream 2.

In the federal election campaign, the foreign policy ideas of Olaf Scholz (SPD), Armin Laschet (Union) and Annalena Baerbock (Alliance 90 / Greens) hardly play a role. One of them will have to follow in the footsteps of Angela Merkel, who will soon be leaving the world stage as the grand dame of foreign policy.

During a question and answer session at the Munich Security Conference in ARD capital studio All three candidates had to answer questions from the capital studio director Tina Hassel and the chairman of the Munich Security Conference, Wolfgang Ischinger, for ninety minutes.

Brussels, Paris and …?

It started with the question of where you would go first as Chancellor. Green leader Baerbock immediately named Brussels. German foreign policy must always be a European one, she said.

With Paris as an answer, Scholz sought to join forces with France and added that this was a good tradition. He used the question directly to allude to his government experience. The Union’s candidate for chancellor, Laschet, however, left the question open.

After the end of the Trump era in the USA, all candidates for the Chancellery agreed that the time should now be used to reconnect the West.

Nord Stream 2 – stop immediately or later?

The US expects Germany to stop the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. They fear Russia could use the pipeline to stop gas supplies through Ukraine, thereby destabilizing it.

The Greens have long been calling for a construction freeze. Baerbock warned that Russia would no longer send gas through the Ukrainian lines: “And when we have winter in Europe, then we will not be able to say, oh, now there will be no gas through Nord Stream 2 either, because then we Europeans will be in no more gas at the moment. ” In order to lead Europe, one must act with more foresight, said Baerbock. In doing so, she criticized her competitors.

The Chancellor candidates from the Union and the SPD argued that gas deliveries through the Baltic Sea pipeline could be stopped again if there was Russian pressure on Ukraine. Scholz and Laschet see the pipeline as an economic project and want it to be completed.

China and Russia – more toughness or more dialogue?

The SPD chairman Scholz thinks it is right to talk to Russia: “It would be wrong to divide the world again,” he said and reminded the audience that US President Joe Biden was also speaking directly to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Scholz considers it naive to believe that a resolution by the Bundestag could lead to everything changing in China. But clear principles are necessary.

CDU boss Laschet also wants to stay in dialogue with Russia and China. Baerbock, on the other hand, accused both of thinking too much about economic advantages. She spoke out in favor of boycotting products made from forced labor, for example by the Muslim minority, the Uyghurs, in China.

She also spoke out in favor of tougher treatment of Hungary’s President Viktor Orban, specifically in favor of reducing EU funding for Hungary. Laschet and Scholz accused Baerbock that this would not be possible without a judgment from the European Court of Justice.

Baerbock: More toughness against China and Russia

While the Chancellor candidates of the Union and the SPD often stuck to the previous foreign policy course of the Federal Government, Baerbock called for a more attitude towards the German missions abroad, more toughness towards China and Russia and a more active EU foreign policy.

Scholz appeared calm and prudent and smiled at the argument between Laschet and Baerbock. Union Chancellor candidate Laschet tried again and again to attack Baerbock by asking them to clarify their ideas.