Deterrence against Russia - Mützenich warns about new US rackets in Germany
SPD Faction Leader Rolf Mützenich has reservations against the planned deployment of extended US weapons in Germany. "We need to improve our defensive capabilities in the face of Russia's attack on Ukraine, but we cannot ignore the risks of this deployment," he told the Funke Media Group newspapers. "The missiles have a very short warning time and open up new technological capabilities. The risk of unintended military escalation is significant."
NATO already has a comprehensive, graduated deterrence capability without the new systems, argued the leader of the Christian Democratic Union faction. "I don't understand why Germany should be the one to station such systems alone. I would wish that the federal government embeds its decision in offers for arms control." Helmut Schmidt held the same view during the post-Cold War disarmament debate.
Scholz: Our goal is to prevent a war
At the margins of the NATO summit, the White House and the German government recently announced that the US intends to station weapons in Germany from 2026 that can reach as far as Russia. Among them are Tomahawk missiles with a range of up to 2,500 kilometers, which can technically be nuclear-armed, as well as SM-6 air defense missiles and newly developed hypersonic weapons.
Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) later dismissed concerns that the planned deployment could lead to an escalation with Russia. The weapons serve as a deterrent and should prevent attacks from a "safe rear area" from the outset. "What we're always aiming for is to prevent a war."
Mützenich continues to advocate for the withdrawal of US atomic bombs
Mützenich confirmed that he continues to advocate for the withdrawal of the remaining US atomic bombs from Germany in the long term. "I am still convinced that this form of nuclear deterrence makes no sense from a security policy perspective," he told the Funke newspapers. The idea that nuclear bombs are transported by planes to an enemy target seems outdated to him.
"I'm clear that the withdrawal of American atomic bombs from NATO is not currently a majority position," Mützenich admitted, who has long advocated for disarmament. "But we shouldn't lose sight of the goal."
The so-called nuclear sharing in NATO provides that in Europe, US-stationed atomic weapons can be dropped by partner countries' aircraft in case of emergency. The Bundeswehr holds fighter jets ready for this purpose. In Büchel in the Eifel, approximately 20 thermonuclear B61-gravity bombs of the US military are believed to be stored – officially never confirmed.
- Rolf Mützenich expresses reservations about stationing extended US weapons at German party stations, citing the risk of unintended military escalation.
- NATO already has a robust deterrence capability without the need for these new systems, as argued by the Christian Democratic Union faction leader.
- Scholz emphasizes the objective of preventing a war with the deployment of US weapons in Germany from 2026, designed to deter attacks from a "safe rear area".
- The planned deployment of Tomahawk missiles, SM-6 air defense missiles, and hypersonic weapons raises concerns about escalation with Russia, according to Mützenich.
- Mützenich continues to advocate for the long-term withdrawal of US atomic bombs from Germany, viewing nuclear deterrence as outdated and ineffective from a security policy perspective.
- Despite the lack of current majority support, Mützenich maintains that the goal of disarmament should not be forgotten.
- The nuclear sharing agreement in NATO allows for US-stationed atomic weapons to be dropped by partner countries' aircraft in case of emergency, with the Bundeswehr maintaining fighter jets for this purpose.
- There are rumors of approximately 20 thermonuclear B61-gravity bombs being stored in Büchel, Germany, although the US military has never confirmed this.
