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Angela Merkel at an appeal by the Bundeswehr in September 2021
Photo: David Hecker/Getty Images
Former Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) is now critical of parts of her defense policy government work.
Merkel told Die Zeit that, despite NATO's requirements, it had not been possible to invest two percent of gross domestic product in the Bundeswehr.
Overall, this has been neglected.
“The CDU and CSU were the only ones who still had that in their government program.
But we too should have reacted more quickly to Russia's aggressiveness," said the ex-Chancellor.
She herself "didn't give a passionate speech every day" that the goal would be achieved.
Merkel referred to the "Zeit" on the NATO double-track decision, which included a dual approach of retrofitting and diplomacy.
"Transferred to the 2 percent target, that means we haven't done enough to deter through increased defense spending."
Merkel's successor in office, Olaf Scholz (SPD), had announced a significant rearmament after the start of the Ukraine war.
According to a study, however, Germany will permanently miss the two percent target despite the announced »turning point«.
Merkel defends herself against more far-reaching criticism
Despite criticism, Merkel does not want to distance herself from other areas of her earlier politics.
'To succumb to that just because it's expected, I would think cheap.
I had so many thoughts back then!
It would be an indictment if, just to keep myself in peace and without really thinking about it, I simply said: Oh, right, now I realize it too, that was wrong.«
With a view to the almost 300-day Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, Merkel spoke out in favor of a solution at the negotiating table.
Merkel did not want to say under what conditions she would welcome a peace agreement between Moscow and Kyiv.
However, she rejects a »dictated peace«.
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