- Pistorius defends the missile defense
Given the planned deployment of long-range US weapons in Germany, representatives of the ruling party, the SPD, continue to express concerns. Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius - also of the SPD - has again defended the plans. Criticism comes from the Green Party coalition partner and from the Union regarding the communication of the decision to deploy the weapons by Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD).
Pistorius said on Tuesday (local time) on the sidelines of a visit to the US state of Hawaii that the deployment involves conventional weapons that are not intended to be equipped with nuclear warheads. "This needs to be clearly emphasized to reassure those who are concerned about this," he said. Russia has had weapons of this and other ranges for some time and has violated and withdrawn from the INF treaty, which regulates nuclear medium-range systems. The deployment of longer-range weapons with conventional warheads is now about "real deterrence," Pistorius said.
SPD MP Stegner: Negotiate with Russia
"We must not make the world more dangerous, not enter a new arms race," warned SPD Bundestag member Ralf Stegner in the WDR 5 "Morning Echo". "We must see that we enter into negotiations with Russia. I know it's difficult, but escalation is the worst option we can have."
Stegner is not the only critical voice in the SPD. Fraktion chief Rolf Mützenich had warned of the risk of military escalation. The former party chairman Norbert Walter-Borjans criticized the lack of debate over the decision of the federal government.
Lang: Communicate decision transparently
At the NATO summit three weeks ago, the USA and Germany announced the deployment of Tomahawk cruise missiles, SM-6 rockets, and new hypersonic weapons from 2026 as a response to threats from Russia, which many Bundestag members found surprising. Criticism and demands that the topic be placed on the Bundestag's agenda came from several parties, including Pistorius' SPD.
Green Party leader Ricarda Lang showed openness to this in the RTL/ntv show "Early Start": "I think it would be sensible to have a more societal and politically strong debate on this." She criticized the communication on the topic: "It would have been good if Olaf Scholz as Federal Chancellor had used the chance to communicate this decision transparently to the population and to explain the reasons behind it."
Lang called for open communication regarding possible concerns among the population. Her party colleague, defense politician Agnieszka Brugger, told the "Rheinische Post": "While I find the deployment understandable and correct, I am greatly puzzled by the manner of communication. The Chancellor must urgently explain and contextualize a decision of this magnitude." Criticism also came from Saxony's Minister President Michael Kretschmer (CDU), who is facing an important state election. "We must discuss this with the population," he said on RTL/ntv. "This policy of 'do as I say' and simply implementing it, that won't do. I support a missile defense shield for Europe. But to simply do it and not talk, in fact, to use words like 'war-mongering', that creates questions, criticism, uncertainty, and probably also false ideas."
According to the government, the Bundestag has already been informed on the matter. Over a week after the NATO summit, a corresponding letter from the Ministry of Defense and the Foreign Office was sent to representatives of all factions in the committees for Foreign Affairs and Defense on July 19, the Federal Press Office stated. However, a debate in parliament is also being demanded.
Defense Minister Pistorius said that there is nothing against openly speaking about this topic in the Bundestag. "But it is originally not a topic that should be previously discussed in parliament. It is also not comparable to the NATO double decision from the 80s. Therefore, we should carefully differentiate here."
The United States has announced the deployment of weapons such as Tomahawk cruise missiles and SM-6 rockets to Germany, a decision met with criticism from various political parties in the Bundestag, including the SPD's Rolf Mützenich and Norbert Walter-Borjans. Green Party leader Ricarda Lang has called for a more transparent communication of this decision by Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz, arguing that it would help to mitigate concerns among the population.
