Plans for Rocket Stationing Alarm Bell for Tensions in Germany
Germany and the USA announced on a Wednesday evening that the US army plans to station long-range weapons in Germany again starting from 2026, to better deter Russia. These weapons will have a "significantly greater range than the currently deployed land-based systems in Europe," according to a joint statement.
German SPD Bundestag member Stegner expressed concern about the announcement in Funke newspapers: "This all leads to a new arms race," Stegner said. "The world will not be safer. Quite the opposite: We are entering a spiral where the world becomes increasingly dangerous."
Before the start of the NATO summit's second day in Washington, Scholz defended the plans on Thursday morning (local time). "It's about having our own protection with deterrence," Scholz said - and for that, precision weapons are necessary.
When asked about possible resistance from the SPD, Scholz said: "This decision has been long prepared and is no surprise for those involved in security and peace politics." Before Scholz' statement, criticism had been voiced from the Greens about the lack of a public explanation from the Chancellor.
The stationing of US rockets is supposed to be temporary, according to government statements - until Germany and European allies can produce and station their own long-range weapons. Germany and France have already agreed to develop a joint long-range missile, and other European countries are expected to participate.
Minister Pistorius said on Deutschlandfunk that the stationing of US rockets is "entirely clear that the US expects us to invest in the development and acquisition of such long-range weapons." The US rockets are intended as a kind of bridge until the development of our own capabilities.
Green Vice Chancellor and Economics Minister Robert Habeck considers the decision "necessary." "We need to increase our defense capabilities because we live in a very threatening time, which is different from the 80s. Naivety is not allowed," he told the "Neue Westfälische."
FDP European politician and defense expert Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann welcomed the stationing decision: "This is strategically important for the alliance of immense significance," she told the "Rheinische Post."
Approval came from the Union. "The long-range weapons will make a significant contribution to long-term and credible deterrence," Union foreign policy expert Johann Wadephul (CDU) explained.
Sharp criticism and drastic warnings came from opposition parties AfD, BSW, and the Left. "The stationing makes Germany a target," AfD leader Tino Chrupalla declared.
BSW chair Sahra Wagenknecht told the "Spiegel": "The stationing of additional attack rockets on German soil does not improve our security but rather increases the risk that Germany itself becomes a battlefield, with devastating consequences for all those living here."
The defense policy spokesperson for the Left in the Bundestag, Dietmar Bartsch, told the "Rheinische Post": "I find this decision highly problematic because the arms race spiral under the label of deterrence is being further escalated."
Fear of growing danger of a conflict with Russia was expressed by almost half of the interviewees in a representative survey for RTL and ntv on Thursday. Forty-seven percent of the overall 1007 interviewees are concerned that a military conflict between Russia and NATO countries is getting closer. Thirty-four percent expect no change in the threat situation from Russia. Seventeen percent believe that security will increase as a result.
- Olaf Scholz defended the plans for US army stationing long-range weapons in Germany at the NATO Summit, stating that it's essential for deterrence and required precision weapons.
- The announcement of the US army's plans to station long-range weapons in Germany from 2026 has caused anxiety within the SPD, with member Ralf Stegner expressing concerns about an arms race and increased danger.
- According to the Rhinish Post, FDP European politician and defense expert Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann welcomed the decision to station US rockets, deeming it strategically important for the alliance.
- Boris Pistorius, the German Defense Minister, explained that the US rockets will serve as a bridge until Germany and European allies can develop and station their own long-range weapons.
- Criticism of the lack of a public explanation from Chancellor Scholz was voiced by the Greens before Scholz's statement defending the plans at the NATO Summit.
- The stationing of US rockets in Germany is temporary, according to government statements, until European allies can produce and station their own long-range weapons, such as the joint long-range missile being developed by Germany and France.
- Germany and the United States of America announced the plans to station long-range weapons in Germany to better deter Russia and counteract their significantly greater range compared to current land-based systems in Europe.
- The SPD criticized the lack of transparency in the decision to station US rockets in Germany, with concerns about escalating the arms race and an increase in the danger of a conflict with Russia.
- The US Army's plans to station long-range weapons in Germany have been met with sharp criticism and warnings from opposition parties AFD, BSW, and the Left, with concerns that it makes Germany a target and increases the risk of becoming a battlefield.
