This will be a difficult European summit for the German Chancellor. Because more and more countries doubt whether one can still rely on the Germans as good Europeans. You have reasons for it.
Sometimes important questions are not discussed in the German Bundestag, such as this: Are the Germans still good Europeans under the government of Chancellor Olaf Scholz? Doubts are allowed, and Scholz will feel some of them at the European summit in Brussels.
Perhaps the Balts will confront the Chancellor in the Belgian capital directly with their main concern, namely whether Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania can still rely on Germany to defend their freedom against the Russians.
Artis Pabriks still served as a soldier in the Soviet Army, which obviously helps when you’re a Latvian defense minister. Based on his own experience, Pabriks is no longer afraid of the Russian army. Not even in front of their nuclear weapons. However, he has doubts about his country’s most important European ally. And Pabriks has been openly expressing these doubts for a few days, whether at conferences in Germany or in interviews.
The FAZ now said Pabriks really fundamental things:
“More and more people are asking whether the Germans are reliable partners. Would German society be willing to give their lives for our freedom? When I see how Germany, but also France and other countries initially supported Ukraine, I have my doubts.”
In other words: A Western frontline state, a member of the European Union like NATO, doubts whether the largest European state and thus most important ally on the Old Continent will fulfill its obligation to exist under Article 5 of the NATO treaty. And that’s because Germany’s society has become pacifist.
When the Bundestag debated European politics today, immediately before the European summit in Brussels, this question was not discussed. Just as little as the statements of the most important confidant of the chancellor, Wolfgang Schmid.
Scholz’s chancellor’s minister had compared the calls for the delivery of German tanks to the Ukraine with the hopes that Adolf Hitler placed in the alleged “wonder weapon” V-2. But that’s not all: Schmidt also said that if Russia captured a German battle tank in Ukraine, this would be “perfect propaganda material” for Russia – to say that the country was under attack from NATO.
However, there is more than one problem:
One would have liked to know from Olaf Scholz what he thinks about the statements of his most important man. One would also like to know whether Scholz based the hesitant delivery of weapons, for which the reasons have changed over time, on the fears of his confidant.
Scholz always says no German going it alone when it comes to arms deliveries. Now, however, the European Parliament has decided by a large majority that the European states, especially the “hesitating” ones, may deliver to Ukraine what Ukraine demands. The vote was clear: 500 (!) MEPs for, 26 against. Social Democrats like Parliament President Katharina Barley also said yes. Also on this we heard from the Federal Chancellor today in his government statement on Europe: nothing.
Olaf Scholz was also silent on the cancellation of a joint cabinet meeting with France that was scheduled to take place next Wednesday. Berlin canceled Paris on the grounds that German ministers were busy elsewhere. Which means: Germany is canceling a Franco-German ministerial meeting because the cabinet members allegedly have more important things to do than coordinate with the French – the French of all things – seriously now?
Shortly before his departure for Brussels, Scholz did not give any information in the Bundestag as to why he did not coordinate his “double boom”, the 200 billion energy aid, with the Europeans. Many of them are mad at the Germans right now, especially those who are less wealthy than Germany. They also fear that Germany is responsible for the moon prices for gas because it is currently buying the world market empty with its money.
Energy has never been as expensive as it is now. But instead of panicking, you should calmly check potential savings at home. As our guide shows, there are many of them.
Some European countries now want to take on debt for their energy aid to their population – analogous to the corona debt that the European Union incurred. Scholz could have made it clear in the Bundestag how he felt about this – the Chancellor avoided any determination.
CSU regional group leader Alexander Dobrindt recalled that Scholz had recently spoken out in favor of European debt at the Social Democrats’ European summit. And even pushing Wumms projects into shadow budgets is not an act that can score points in Brussels.
Finally: China. Most recently, Green Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock used the Green party conference to issue a strategic warning. Once again, Germany should not become so dependent on a shady state like Russia. What was meant was China.
The NDR is now reporting that Scholz wants to enable a Chinese state-owned company to buy part of the port of Hamburg, several of the traffic light ministries warned of this because this opens up the potential for blackmail – China is also a major customer of the port of Hamburg. Does Scholz really not consider a sale of the Port of Hamburg to be a strategic dependency on China?
How to deal with China should be one of the topics at the euro summit. It will be interesting to see if there are any questions about the port project for Scholz. In any case, the matter is reminiscent of the Nord Stream 2 deal, which Scholz sold as a “private project” until the Russians invaded Ukraine.
To answer the opening question of this text: doubts about Germany as a good European have never been greater than today. They are largest in Eastern Europe.
Artis Pabriks, the Latvian defense minister, demands leadership from Germany. He will have to be patient.
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