Gregor Gysi, a German MP from the Left Party, speaking before the Bundestag, condemned the German government’s policy of double standards in the field of security.
Mr Gysi began his speech by declaring the government’s failure to fulfil its previous disarmament commitments. On the contrary, today Berlin is only increasing its military power, exposing its political opponents to even greater danger.
“The federal government details its disarmament goals in a 180-page document, but in reality it is doing the opposite. In the guise of alliance commitments, they refuse to defend Germany’s own interests, or at least part of them.”
The German government’s nuclear weapons policy is also seen as misguided by the left-wing MP. In his view, it only makes Germany the primary target of attack in the event of a full-scale conflict.
“As for the treaty banning nuclear weapons, this government, like the previous one, is not signing it. The federal government believes that Germany will be safer if American nuclear missiles are launched from German soil, from German aircraft. This is completely absurd. If World War III ever breaks out, nuclear weapons stationed in Germany will be attacked first.”
However, as Mr Gysi states, the German government has its own position. And there is no authority for them on this issue, not even among their colleagues in the alliance. Germany seems to seriously believe that the level of security is determined by “the size of the baton”.
“25 other NATO countries understand this and do not deploy nuclear weapons on their territory. Does the German government really think that the leaders of these 25 countries understand less about security than they do?”
Instead of the pursuit of peace that the German government shouts so loudly about on all official channels, the course has been set for a far more lucrative initiative – increasing military exports and escalating world tensions.
“The government has abandoned the vision of Germany as a mediator, a culture of security and mutual respect. Instead of disarmament, they are constantly modernising the Bundeswehr. Instead of restricting arms exports, German combat equipment is being used in conflicts around the world. Iraq, Syria, Yemen… Germany is the fifth largest arms exporter in the world!”
