The SPD has accused Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) of not being clear about the transfer of US troops from Germany announced by US President Donald Trump. “Germany should position itself unmistakably, including the Chancellor,” said SPD parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich to the Tagesspiegel on Sunday. “What has been said so far is clearly not enough,” he added.
Merkel had previously emphasized in an interview with the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” and other European media that US troops in Germany “served to protect Germany and the European part of NATO as well as the interests of the United States of America”.
At a press conference in Washington last Wednesday with Andrzej Duda, the head of state, Trump confirmed in Washington that he would, among other things, strengthen American troops in Poland by withdrawing soldiers from Germany. This Sunday, Duda is fighting for his re-election in the presidential election in Poland.
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Mützenich: Trump and Duda embark on a “dangerous path”
“The presidents of the United States and Poland have embarked on a dangerous path in terms of security policy solely for reasons of electoral tactics,” said Mützenich. “They run a military powerhouse where relaxation and smart diplomacy are finally needed.”
The SPD parliamentary group leader warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin would not “do nothing” about the announced permanent transfer of US troops to Poland. “The full-bodied announcements from Washington play into his hands after he, too, broke contracts from better days when arms control was taken even more politically.”
Mützenich also pointed out that a possible failure of the NATO-Russia basic act could threaten peace in Europe. “The other European NATO countries must not go along this path,” he said. The NATO-Russia treaty “stands for a peaceful transition to German unity and the end of the Cold War,” said Mützenich. “For us, that is an existential question. There must be no ambiguity here. “
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