Ice age between Baerbock and Scholz: The minister pushes ahead on tank issues – to the annoyance of the chancellor.
Who sets the course in the Ukraine war?
Berlin – She calls for tanks, he calls for restraint.
She speaks of "war against Russia", he calls her back.
In the past few weeks, Annalena Baerbock (Greens) and Olaf Scholz (SPD) have attracted particular attention because of one thing: different positions in the Ukraine war.
Behind the scenes there is said to be a lot of gossip between the foreign minister and the chancellor.
The governing parties are trying to de-escalate, the opposition is already sounding the alarm.
CDU foreign policy expert Norbert Röttgen criticized the appearance of the traffic light coalition in the Ukraine war.
"Never before has a federal government been as divided on foreign policy as this one is," said the Union politician on ZDF.
There is neither agreement between the parties, nor would the Foreign Minister and Chancellor speak the same language: "That weakens Germany."
War against Russia?
In the tank debate, Baerbock upset the chancellor with a war party sentence
In the day-long debate about arms deliveries, Baerbock had campaigned for the provision of German Leopard 2 main battle tanks, citing, among other things, that a “war against Russia” was being waged.
The sentence caused an outcry and was immediately exploited by Russian propaganda.
Because within NATO, one is very careful not to be perceived as a war party, despite the delivery of tanks and heavy weapons.
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Arguing about the right course in the Ukraine war: Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens).
© Michael Kappeler/dpa
Chancellor Olaf Scholz immediately called his foreign minister back.
Under no circumstances will there be a war between NATO and Russia, emphasized the head of government.
"That's out of the question for us.
We will do everything to ensure that it doesn't happen.” A little later, the foreign office corrected the Baerbock sentence.
Small faux pas, big effect.
The Baerbock slip of the tongue caused frowns and shaking of heads not only in the Chancellery.
"A foreign minister has to know what she's saying," criticized ex-government spokesman Bela Anda in a
picture
talk.
According to the report, Baerbock's performances are now under close scrutiny.
Government officials were quoted anonymously as saying that the chancellor dislikes a number of things that his colleague in the cabinet is up to.
Dealing with Russia's war of aggression: Baerbock wants battle tanks - Scholz hesitates
In fact, two worlds are currently colliding.
Since the beginning of Russia's war of aggression, Baerbock has tended to be bold, while Scholz has thought for a long time and urged restraint.
As early as September, the Greens politician called for the delivery of battle tanks to Ukraine.
Last week she indicated that Germany would not block the request.
The problem: there was still no official government decision and the chancellor wanted to wait for a commitment from the USA first.
There are also different opinions on the direction of China and France policy.
Tanks, drones, anti-aircraft defenses: weapons for Ukraine
Tanks, drones, anti-aircraft defenses: weapons for Ukraine
In the SPD, the minister's loud speeches are viewed critically - especially her dealings with Russia.
For a long time, the Social Democrats pursued a pro-Kremlin course, which the Ukraine war revealed to be a mistake.
Now the comrades are struggling internally for a realignment.
They can't use the constant disruptive fire from the Greens.
Conversely, the Greens are annoyed by the hesitancy of the SPD, which sometimes also causes trouble in the USA.
The foreign minister has an "active agenda," party leader Omid Nouripour defended Baerbock's line
ZDF.
Instead of constantly lamenting, “clear language” is needed from time to time.
That was definitely to be understood as a tit-for-tat to the chancellor.
War in Ukraine: After the tank debate, the traffic light coalition must now answer questions about fighter jets
In any case, it won't get any easier in the coming weeks.
After the tank debate, the call for more weapons for Ukraine does not go away.
Munter is already discussing the delivery of fighter jets.
But the Foreign Minister has not yet got involved in this.
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List of rubrics: © Michael Kappeler/dpa
