NATO expansion was actually supposed to be the focus of Defense Minister Pistorius’ trip to Scandinavia. But now the visits to Finland, Sweden and Norway are being overshadowed by the Russian wiretapping operation.
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius travels with heavy political baggage. The debate about the Russian wiretapping operation will accompany him on his trip to Scandinavia. Pistorius speaks of an “information war” being waged by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Of all things, Russia recorded a conversation between Air Force Chief Ingo Gerhartz and other officers about the “Taurus” cruise missile and published it shortly before the weekend. For Pistorius, it is clear what Russia is aiming for by publishing the confidential conversation: “It is a hybrid disinformation attack. It is about division.”
The publication comes at an inopportune time. Chancellor Olaf Scholz has repeatedly expressed reluctance about “Taurus” deliveries to Ukraine, which ultimately resulted in a no. Just yesterday, Scholz reaffirmed: “I am the Chancellor, and that’s why this applies.” However, this also finds critics in its own traffic light ranks. Also yesterday, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) said that all funds for Ukraine must be “examined carefully”.
New findings on the wiretapping affair
Shortly before setting off for Stockholm, Pistorius asked to go to the Ministry of Defense. The departure was postponed at short notice by around an hour and a half. The Defense Minister wants to present new findings on the wiretapping affair this morning. He has commissioned the Military Counterintelligence Service to investigate. The aim is to find out whether the Bundeswehr officers used the right communication platform for their Taurus mind games – or whether they should have used better shielded technology.
Henning Otte is deputy chairman of the Defense Committee. The CDU politician will accompany the minister on the journey from Sweden via Norway to Finland. For Otte, the trip is “a clear sign of solidarity to our now three Scandinavian NATO partners.” Norway has been a member of NATO since 1949 and is one of the founding members of the defense alliance. Sweden will soon become the youngest and 32nd member, while Finland has only been a member since last year.
The Baltic Sea becomes a NATO sea
Otte evaluates the trip in an interview with ARD capital studio also as a sign of strength – despite the wiretapping scandal. It is clear that Russia is trying to provoke crises through espionage and sabotage. This makes it all the more important that these three Scandinavian countries make their contribution to deterrence in NATO. “This also represents a significant strengthening for Germany by securing the Baltic Sea region,” says Otte.
With the attack on Ukraine, Russian President Putin got more NATO instead of less, as Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg once described it. The Baltic Sea becomes a NATO sea. With the exception of Russia, all neighboring states will soon be part of the defense alliance.
Sweden as a strong NATO member
Pistorius’ first travel stop is Sweden. After Turkey, Hungary has recently stopped blocking the country’s path into NATO. A good two weeks ago, at a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels, Pistorius described Sweden’s accession as overdue. Sweden will be a powerful partner. In view of the Russian attack on Ukraine, the country has given up its century-long neutrality.
Sweden brings a lot to NATO: a strong air force and a well-equipped navy with submarines and patrol boats. In addition, all Swedes receive mail on their 18th birthday because of the general pattern in the country. Defense Minister Pistorius also finds this interesting because of the shortage of personnel in the Bundeswehr. However, this model would require a change to the Basic Law in Germany.
Readiness for action in the Arctic Circle
Finland came under the NATO umbrella of joint defense last year. Chancellor Scholz recently welcomed this as a win for all partners; the alliance had become stronger.
In Finland, Pistorius visits the “Nordic Response” maneuver, in which German mountain troops are also taking part; even reindeer were relocated for the large-scale exercise. NATO wants to demonstrate its operational readiness in the Arctic Circle in the far north. This is especially true in times of Russian wiretapping attacks, says CDU politician Otte. “It’s about strengthening the eastern flank, making the deterrent factor against an aggressor and thus also against Russian activities once again clearly visible.”
Three times Scandinavia, three times NATO: it is also a sign of strength in a moment of weakness.