The German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, defended this Thursday (06.22.2023) in terms of European and Euro-Atlantic security the comprehensive national strategy recently presented by his government to protect the country “against any threat”. “At the same time, the national security strategy tells our European and international friends and allies: Germany can be trusted,” he said in a government statement before the plenary session of the Bundestag for the next European Council on June 29-30.
In this sense, he added: “We act in a coordinated manner at the European and international level. And in this framework, we assume more responsibility for the security of Europe.” He stressed that “national defense is the defense of the alliance and vice versa” and for this, the national security strategy points out specific objectives: to reinforce the Bundeswehr (German army) in such a way that it becomes the guarantor of conventional defense in Europe, promote future military capabilities and broaden the security and defense technology base in Europe”.
Scholz pointed out that the world of the 21st century is characterized by the rise of very different centers of power, in addition to the United States, Europe and China, also in other parts of Asia, Africa and South America. “Our goal is for Europe to remain one of these centers of power, with Germany as a strong, cosmopolitan and democratic country at its center,” he said. He reiterated that security is much more than the defense of the country and the alliance, “no matter how central this aspect is.”
With an eye on Ukraine and NATO
“The Ukrainian government itself has declared that it is not possible to join NATO while Russia is waging its war against Ukraine,” Scholz told the Bundestag, the lower house of parliament. “That is why I propose that in Vilnius we focus on what is now a top priority, namely strengthening Ukraine’s combat capability,” he added, referring to the summit scheduled for July 11-12.
On the other hand, Scholz urged the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to ratify Sweden’s accession to the Atlantic Alliance, as the country’s authorities expect. “I am firmly convinced that, in addition to Finland, Sweden should also sit at the summit table as a new ally. And I call on the re-elected Turkish President Erdogan to pave the way for this, as we all decided together last year,” he said. the German leader to the Bundestag.
