Taurus delivery
“Defeatism”: Hofreiter and Röttgen attack Scholz
CDU foreign policy expert Norbert Röttgen sharply criticizes the Chancellor. photo
© Kay Nietfeld/dpa
It’s a remarkable solidarity: Shortly before another vote on Taurus deliveries to Ukraine, there is new criticism of the Chancellor – from an unusual duo.
In the debate about arms deliveries to Ukraine, CDU foreign expert Norbert Röttgen and Green Party politicians Anton Hofreiter harshly criticized Chancellor Olaf Scholz together. In a guest article for the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung” they accused the SPD politician of “catastrophic defeatism” and “dramatically poor communication”. With a view to Scholz’s arguments against supplying Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine, they criticized the Chancellor for spreading fear and terror among the population.
Scholz’s claim that Taurus deliveries are turning Germany into a warring party is “factually and legally wrong.” This also snubs France and Great Britain, who have already delivered. British Foreign Minister David Cameron recently offered Germany help on the issue, for example with a ring exchange that could allay the Chancellor’s concerns. “If it still doesn’t work, it becomes clear that all the reasons for non-delivery are just excuses,” criticize Röttgen and Hofreiter.
The Union wants to submit another proposal for a vote in the Bundestag on Thursday to supply Ukraine with the Taurus system. Scholz rejects the delivery of the long-range missiles because he fears that they could drag Germany into the war. There are signs that the Union proposal could also be supported by individual members of the FDP and Greens.
“It’s our Europe after all”
“For two years, the delivery of every new type of weapon has been accompanied by the most laborious discussions, pseudo-arguments and fearful rhetoric,” write Hofreiter and Röttgen in the “FAZ”. Even with the Leopard 2 tanks, the message to Russian President Vladimir Putin was: “Without the USA, things don’t work in Germany.”
Germany had promised the tanks to Ukraine after the USA announced that it wanted to supply Abrams tanks itself – but the federal government denied any connection. On his most recent trip to the USA, Scholz conveyed that if the USA were to fail as the most important supporter, then Ukraine would be lost. “It’s our Europe. We have to defend it and, if the USA fails, compensate for its aid if necessary,” warn Röttgen and Hofreiter.
The fear is that the war will become a campaign issue before the 2025 federal election – with the message to the people: “Our Chancellor has kept you out of the war.”