Members of Germany’s ruling coalition government are at odds with each other over a US plan to deploy missile systems to the country in 2026 that were previously banned by the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, which the US withdrew from in 2019.
The plan was announced in a joint statement released by the US and Germany during the NATO summit earlier this month, but some German officials said they were caught off guard or denounced the plan as unnecessary escalation, including members of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Rolf Mützenich, parliamentary leader of the SDP, warned that the “danger of an unintentional military escalation is considerable.” Russian officials have said they’re not ruling out deploying new nuclear missiles in response.
The announcement said the US would deploy land-based nuclear-capable Tomahawk missiles, SM-6 missiles, and “developmental hypersonic weapons.”
The Tomahawks are typically used by US Navy destroyers and submarines and have a range of over 1,000 miles. The land-based version was previously banned by the INF, which prohibited ground-fired missile systems with a range between 310 and 3,400 miles. Mützenich warned that the missiles the US plans to deploy to Germany have a “very short warning time and open up new technological capabilities.”
Ralf Stegner, another member of the SDP, also warned against the deployment. “This will not make the world safer,” he said. “On the contrary, we are entering a spiral in which the world is becoming increasingly dangerous.”
Sara Nanni, a member of the Greens, which is part of Scholz’s coalition government, denounced the US plan. “It can increase fears and leaves room for disinformation and incitement,” she said.
On Sunday, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, also a member of the Greens, responded to the criticism from within her own party and government, saying the US missiles were welcome. “We must protect ourselves and our Baltic partners against this, including through increased deterrence and additional stand-off weapons,” she said.
Germany’s leading opposition party, the Christian Democrats, has said it supports the US deployment, while other opposition parties, including the Alternative for Germany and the Left Party, have come out against it.
With NATO having those 500,000 troops on high alert today, guess it looks like WWIII is eminent. https://www.newsweek.com/nato-half-million-troops-high-readiness-russia-threat-ukraine-1928306
@ Lily Sandoz – Western politicians, war propagandists and war profiteers should be sent to front themselves.
Dumme Baerbock's response comes as no surprise.
Dave links to this article: Germany split on US stationing long-range cruise missiles . Under Criticism from far left and far right the article mentions Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht (with Sevim Daǧdelen), which is not 'far left'.
In the last paragraph the article talks of "Russia's full scale invasion", which it was not but which is standard US regime propaganda language being parroted by european politicians and media.
Baerbock is an insult to "Dumme."
Wash. will bring out the checkbook to ensure their plans for WWIII are met. Everybody in govs. today are such hos. and care only about their own pocket books, purses and power.
All but a few of our leaders have gotten so crazy that they have talked themselves into the notion that Russia is going to invade. So, instead of diplomacy, they have chosen to present a genuine threat to Russia's existence.
They are not acting in their own best interest, and they are not following the will of the people they represent.
Nor do they listen when Putin says that he's had it with the west. Those paying attention can clearly see that Russia now looks to Asia for its place in the world. Russia's leaders believe that Europe has contracted a disease that will strangle its economy. The EU will collapse from within, and it's their own fault.
It's good to see some pushback against US arrogance and escalatory lunacy, especially within NATO. I wonder if Germans have just about had it with people like Bareback and Sgt. Scholz.
This is exactly how you protect yourself to death.
Imagine what our Propaganda Media would be saying if they attempted to assassinate the former President and opposition candidate, followed 3 days later by the sudden disappearance and abdication of the sitting President, in Russia or Iran.
Interesting thought experiment, but given your apparent support for that former president, I’m not sure why you’d bring it up.
The living former president of Russia is Medvedev. IF he was an opponent of Putin’s who was seeking the presidency again, and IF there was an unsuccessful assassination attempt on him, and IF Putin then disappeared for several days and abdicated, our Propaganda Media would likely be saying that Medvedev faked an assassination attempt on himself and that his minions then deposed Putin.
Are you implying that Trump faked an assassination attempt on himself and that Trump accomplices then abducted Biden, whisked him away to Delaware, and “persuaded” him to abdicate?
By the way, good call on Biden being done. I heard it from you first.
Thanks!
I wasn't nearly as certain, nearly as soon, as others though. And it took three days longer than I predicted when I DID become certain (I expected it to happen just as Trump was going on stage to accept the GOP nomination).
You believe Trump is "the answer"?
If I recall, I predicted here at antiwar that Biden would "pull an LBJ" months ago. Do you remember that Tom?
Yes, I think I do remember that. I’m far from the only one, or the earliest one, to expect it.
I don't think Biden's exit is the same. He went kicking and screaming.
It was a “mostly peaceful” coup so far.
How dare they show their opposition to this NATO deployment…!?
Choices are Kaliningrad, North Africa and Cuba…!
These un-tested hypersonics would fall in Poland or Belarus before reaching Moscow…!
"… including through increased deterrence and additional stand-off weapons…"
Bubble Head is a parrot.
Off to the Reeducation Camp with them.
That's what Germany needs: To make itself ground zero for any future escalation of hostilities.
Angry senile warmonger Joey Biden is being swept into the dustbin of history and Germany may soon join him in ceasing to exist!
Remember it is maniacal obama who hates all things European!
No changes will occur under a Harris Presidency.
We blow up Nord Stream, now we want Germany to host our nukes??? Be a target?? Germany better wake up.