Germany: Chancellor in a whirlwind of pressure Israel today

When Olaf Schulz became Chancellor of Germany a little over a year ago, he had no idea what political and military turmoil he would get into.

Although there were already quite clear warnings about Russia's intention to invade Ukraine.

However, no one in Berlin took these warnings seriously.

Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, and with it the most serious crisis on European soil since World War II, Schulz had to face a reality that required him to completely break away from the traditional foreign and security policy of his Social Democratic Party, which advocated maintaining a strong relationship with Moscow, minimal arming and avoiding military involvement in conflict zones.

Schulz's social democratic predecessor, Gerhard Schröder, was indeed the first to break with the German tradition of non-involvement, when he led Germany to its first military involvement since the end of World War II outside of Germany's borders - in the Kosovo War and Afghanistan.

However, the policy change required of Schultz was much more profound: approval of huge investments in the armament of the German army and its renewal, the supply of weapons systems to NATO member states close to the front line with Russia, the increase of German military forces stationed in some of these countries, and now he is required to make a decision regarding the supply of equipment Heavy military directly to Ukraine.

Not only the Polish request to transfer German tanks to Ukraine is on the agenda, but also a demand from Germany to directly supply Ukraine with "Leopard" tanks.

Such a move would be perceived by Moscow as a declaration of war on the part of Germany, hence Schulz's many hesitations to get a proposed resolution on the matter approved by his government.

In the face of this hesitation, Schultz finds himself under pressure from almost all sides: the American administration resented the German foot-dragging at the end of last week;

Germany's eastern partners in the NATO alliance - mainly the Baltic states and Poland - do not spare Berlin harsh criticism;

France demands that Schulz make a quick decision on the matter, and his coalition partners for the center-left government - the "Greens" and the Liberals - no longer hide their displeasure at Schulz's delay in making a decision that may allow Ukraine to increase its counterattack against the Russian forces on its soil ahead of schedule.

Needless to say, the conservative opposition in Germany does not spare its tribe from Schultz either.

"Leopard" tank of the Polish army, photo: AFP

In Berlin they say that they will examine as quickly as possible the request that arrived today from Poland, to transfer German Leuphard tanks to Ukraine.

Until recently, Berlin refrained from granting such permission to the Poles, but the heavy pressure exerted by Warsaw and other NATO countries took its toll and Berlin flexed its position.

A positive response to the Polish request will give Schulz an additional time interval before he has to make a difficult decision on the direct supply of tanks to Ukraine, a decision that will embroil Germany in a direct conflict with Russia.

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