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Rolf Mützenich: Kramp-Karrenbauer's thought games are "irresponsible"
Photo: Christoph Hardt / imago images / Future Image
SPD parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich has long been a critic of the policy of Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer (CDU). Now he has sharply criticized her statements on NATO's nuclear deterrent and urged her not to burden the work of a future federal government. "The defense minister's latest thought games on the use of nuclear weapons in a conflict with Russia are irresponsible," said Mützenich of the German press agency. "Unfortunately, Mrs. Kramp-Karrenbauer does not differ from the equally unfounded threats from the Russian side."
On Thursday on Deutschlandfunk, Kramp-Karrenbauer said in response to a question about possible NATO deterrent scenarios against Russia with the option of using nuclear weapons: “We have to make it very clear to Russia that we are ready in the end - and that is also the deterrent doctrine are to use such means so that it has a deterrent effect beforehand and nobody gets the idea of attacking the areas over the Baltic States or in the Black Sea NATO partners, "she said. "That is the core idea of NATO, this alliance." She referred to violations of the airspace over the Baltic NATO states by Russia, but also to "increasing attacks around the Black Sea".
Mützenich accused Kramp-Karrenbauer of helping to turn an "escalation screw". "It is a mystery to me whether the minister has also thought of the nuclear weapons still stored in Germany." At the Büchel air base in Rhineland-Palatinate, around 20 atomic bombs are said to be stored, which are to be dropped by the Bundeswehr fighter jets stationed there in an emergency. The German participation in the nuclear deterrent of NATO becomes part of the coalition negotiations between the SPD, the Greens and the FDP. The SPD and the Greens take a skeptical stance on this.
Mützenich emphasized that the security policy in Germany had so far distinguished itself by illuminating the remaining opportunities for relaxation.
Kramp-Karrenbauer disregard this with their statements.
"I appeal to Ms. Kramp-Karrenbauer not to burden the policy of a new federal government," he told the dpa.
muk / dpa
