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Chancellor Angela Merkel, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels
Photo: Kenzo Tribouillard / AP
Chancellor Angela Merkel argues that NATO should develop a double approach of deterrence and dialogue with China and Russia.
"I am a great advocate of the two-pillar approach," said Merkel after the deliberations at the NATO summit in Brussels.
It is right to pay more attention to emerging China in the alliance's new strategic concept. If you look at the cyber threat and the foreign policy and military cooperation between Russia and China, it is clear that the country should not be overlooked. But you shouldn't overdo it, you have to find the right balance, she added. "China is a rival on many issues, but China is also a partner on many issues," emphasized Merkel. She therefore advocated making the communist country an offer of dialogue based on the model of the NATO-Russia talks.
Russia "unfortunately" sees NATO as an enemy more than 30 years after the end of the Cold War, said the Chancellor.
Nevertheless, she emphasized again that "the double approach - on the one hand deterrence and personal defense and on the other hand willingness to talk - is very important."
Merkel spoke of an important NATO summit which "I think also documented a new beginning".
Merkel reaffirmed the commitment of the NATO states to spend two percent of their economic output on defense.
Germany wants to achieve this goal "towards 2030".
It is true, however, that a number of NATO partners are already spending more than two percent on security.
Merkel wants to come to terms with the Afghanistan mission
Merkel also campaigned for a reappraisal of the military mission in Afghanistan, which came to an end after almost 20 years.
You have to talk about what has worked and what has not, said Merkel.
We owe that to the soldiers who lost their lives in Afghanistan.
In the Bundeswehr alone, there were 59 soldiers, 35 of whom were killed in attacks or in combat.
From her point of view, it was much more difficult to build a politically stable state than anyone had imagined, Merkel admitted.
The USA announced in mid-April that it would withdraw from Afghanistan after almost 20 years by September 11th - the anniversary of the devastating Islamist attacks in the USA with more than 3,000 dead.
Then the 4th of July - the national holiday of the USA - was brought up for discussion.
The other NATO troop contributors have made their withdrawal plans dependent on those of the United States.
The Bundeswehr has already brought the first soldiers back to Germany.
The Bundeswehr base in Mazar-i-Sharif is gradually being handed over to the Afghan armed forces.
Germany was most recently the second largest provider of troops to NATO after the USA.
mfh / Reuters
