"Nonsense": Scholz defends himself after a hard CNN attack on Germany
Created: 2022-02-08 13:52
By: Stephanie Munk
Is Olaf Scholz a reliable partner in the Ukraine conflict?
After the Chancellor's trip to the USA, there are doubts.
Reactions to his visit to Biden have been mixed.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) made his first official visit to US President Joe Biden - and tried to position himself as a reliable partner for the US in the Ukraine conflict.
But the chancellor also avoided a clear rejection of Nord Stream 2 if Russia attacks Ukraine.
The reactions to his visit to the USA are also ambivalent.
Scholz sometimes gets harsh criticism in the USA, where he wanted to regain trust.
According to bild.de
, the CNN broadcaster broadcast
a disapproving report on Scholz's appearance.
Strongest point of criticism: Scholz did not even mention Nord Stream 2 during the press conference with Biden, while Biden clearly threatened to shut down the pipeline.
CNN was also met with incomprehension by the German government's persistent refusal to supply arms to Ukraine.
CNN reporter Jake Tapper also opened an interview with Scholz with the tough statement that Germany is increasingly being seen as an ally of Russia rather than the West.
"Nonsense," defended the chancellor.
Olaf Scholz: US politicians doubt his reliability
But Scholz not only gets headwind from the US press.
Influential politicians in the US also doubt that he is tough enough on Putin.
Mitch McDonnel, leader of the Senate Republicans, said during Scholz's inaugural visit: "It would be a powerful demonstration of German leadership" if the latter were to declare "that the Russian escalation in Europe leads to an end - an end!
– will lead from Nord Stream 2”.
Arms deliveries to Ukraine are also appropriate: "It is now time for Germany to stand up and protect the peace." Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal told the
New York Times
: "Germany is missing in action". Mission".
Criticism from Friedrich Merz (CDU): "Not a successful first visit"
There is also criticism of Scholz' US visit in Germany, namely from the Union.
CDU party leader Friedrich Merz criticized in advance that Scholz's trip to the USA was far too late.
Even in retrospect, he critically evaluates Scholz's performance.
Merz believes that the very fact that Joe Biden so conspicuously emphasized the reliability of Germany shows that there are doubts about this.
There are cracks in the German-American relationship, especially when it comes to Nord Stream 2.
The activities of ex-SPD Chancellor Gerhard Schröder were also viewed with great skepticism in the USA.
"All this does not contribute to the fact that one can speak of a successful initial visit here," judges Merz.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz also gets praise for his trip to the USA
Security expert Wolfgang Ischinger rates Scholz' appearance in the USA positively.
"The Chancellor has done well in an extremely difficult situation," said the head of the Munich Security Conference to the newspapers of the
Funke media group
.
"He emphatically and convincingly reaffirmed the transatlantic relationship." When it came to the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline, Scholz successfully circumnavigated the cliffs.
"Despite differences in wording," the Chancellor showed "that there is no dispute with America on this very difficult issue for Germany," said Ischinger.
Scholz was able to "largely eliminate upsets in Washington".
Can you count on Scholz?
There are doubts in the US
Nord Stream 2 is to bring Russian gas to Germany, bypassing Ukraine.
There has been massive criticism of the project in the USA for years, which has increased significantly since the escalation of the Ukraine crisis.
The German government's refusal to supply arms to Ukraine is also causing irritation.
Some allies have accused Scholz of not putting enough pressure on Russia in the Ukraine crisis.
Doubts have also been raised in the USA as to whether Germany can be counted on in an emergency.
smu/dpa
