Anders Fogh Rasmussen: Hesitation does not make Scholz a peace chancellor
Federal Chancellor Scholz continues to reject the delivery of the Taurus missile system. Former NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen criticizes this stance: "Hesitancy only gives Putin an incentive to continue the war," he told ntv.de.
The former NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen urged Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz to make the Taurus missile system available to Ukraine as soon as possible. He had expected Scholz to follow the American example, as the USA had supplied ATACMS long-range missiles, Rasmussen said in an interview with ntv.de.
"I had assumed that the German government would back down. Federal Chancellor Scholz has not done so," Rasmussen, who was NATO Secretary-General from 2009 to 2014, said. "That's all the more surprising, as the first F-16 fighter jets from Denmark and the Netherlands are now arriving in Ukraine - and a combination of F-16 fighter jets and long-range missiles would be a very powerful weapon. That's why I continue to urge Federal Chancellor Scholz to approve the delivery of the Taurus missiles as soon as possible."
"Currently, the Chancellor is refusing to deliver Taurus long-range missiles. I really don't understand why," Rasmussen said. Hesitancy in arms deliveries only gives Russian President Vladimir Putin an incentive to continue the war. "While we were discussing Leopard 2 tanks, he has strengthened the Russian defense installations in eastern Ukraine. That has made it even harder and bloodier for the Ukrainians to recover lost territory." Hesitancy does not lead to peace, but to an endless war, Rasmussen said. "I have noticed that Federal Chancellor Scholz is seen as a peace chancellor. But I have to say, more hesitance will not make him a peace chancellor. On the contrary, it will make him a war chancellor."
Regarding the question of whether European NATO members were preparing for a second term of former US President Donald Trump, Rasmussen said: "The short answer is: No. But we are better prepared than in 2016." Ten years ago, three countries had reached the two percent NATO target, now there are 23 of the 32 allies. "We are therefore better prepared. Trump demanded greater European investment in our own defense. We have heard the message, Europe is on the move. But it was a very slow, a too slow process. We must become faster."
The interview appears on Sunday at 08.00 hours.
- Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the former NATO Secretary-General, expressed his disappointment with Olaf Scholz's decision to not deliver the Taurus missile system to Ukraine, stating that it provides Vladimir Putin with an incentive to continue the war.
- Rasmussen contrasted Germany's stance with the United States' provision of ATACMS long-range missiles to Ukraine, suggesting that Scholz should follow a similar example.
- In an analysis of the current situation, Rasmussen noted that Putin has strengthened defensive installations in eastern Ukraine while discussions about Leopard 2 tanks were ongoing, making it more challenging for Ukraine to regain lost territory.
- Looking back at the 2016 election of former US President Donald Trump, Rasmussen suggested that European NATO members are currently better prepared, with more countries meeting NATO's two percent target, but they must accelerate their efforts to strengthen collective defense.
