As of: February 20, 2024, 10:41 a.m
By: Jakob Koch
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Together with his wife Eva Luise, Federal President Horst Köhler announced his resignation 13 years ago.
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Now the Bundeswehr frigate “Hessen” is supposed to protect German commercial interests militarily against Houthi attacks in the Red Sea – just as Horst Köhler once wanted.
Update from February 20, 2024, 10:27 a.m
.: Boris Pistorius has emphasized the importance of the planned deployment of the frigate “Hessen” in the Red Sea.
It is a signal with which the West shows: “We will protect international security and freedom of navigation.
The effect will not be underestimated,” said the SPD Federal Defense Minister on Tuesday in the ZDF “Morgenmagazin”.
The operation is a “very important signal to the attacking Houthis and the organizations and states behind them.”
The freedom of trade routes and the safety of ships on the most important trade route between Europe and Asia are essential.
“At its core, it is primarily about the safety of international shipping as a whole,” emphasized the Defense Minister.
“Germany cannot stand by and do nothing.”
First report:
Berlin – The situation in the Red Sea is getting worse.
Reports of merchant ships being attacked or hijacked appear on the news ticker every day.
Germany is also feeling the consequences of the Houthi attacks: the German shipping company Hapag-Lloyd resignedly states to
ZEIT
: “We are not prepared for terrorism”.
A freighter belonging to the world's fifth-largest liner shipping company was attacked by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea strait between Yemen and Djibouti.
Like other shipping companies, diversions via the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa will be maintained "until passage through the Suez Canal and the Red Sea is safe again for ships and their crews." This is exactly what will happen soon - with military means.
Consequences of the Houthi attacks: Will the Bundeswehr soon be deployed in the Red Sea?
The US military has now announced the new security initiative “Operation Prosperity Guardian” for the Red Sea.
A variety of countries are involved - from Great Britain to Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, the Seychelles and Spain.
The protection of merchant ships should be improved through increased cooperation between naval forces.
And the Bundeswehr?
Is she also part of the alliance?
That is not yet entirely clear: The Foreign Office and the Defense Ministry confirmed that the examination of possible participation of the Bundeswehr in the security alliance forged by the USA for the maritime area in the Red Sea has not yet been completed.
In any case, government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit chose big words in Berlin on Wednesday: “There is freedom at sea and also on the high seas.
And when that is threatened, the global community is called upon to reduce such threats,” he said.
Protecting trade interests against the Houthis militarily in the Red Sea – Horst Köhler had to resign
In plain language, reducing threats also means possible deaths and injuries on the Houthi side during a military operation in the Red Sea.
The fact that the Bundeswehr could take an active role in such a task was already demanded by Federal President Horst Köhler 13 years ago.
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Surname: |
Horst Köhler |
Birth date: |
February 22, 1943 |
In office as Federal President: |
2004 to 2010 |
Following activity: |
Managing Director IMF |
Military service: |
1963 to 1965 |
“A country of our size with this foreign trade orientation and therefore foreign trade dependence,” said Köhler at the time, “must know that in case of doubt, in an emergency, military action is necessary to protect our interests, for example free trade routes, for example entire regional instabilities "What would have met with a broad response today in the case of the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea caused a scandal in 2010.
Köhler once called for the Bundeswehr to be deployed in the Red Sea - and resigned shortly afterwards
According to critics, Köhler linked Bundeswehr operations to economic interests.
Only a little later, Köhler took off his hat.
“The attacks on me in connection with my statements about Germany’s security interests were outrageous and unjustified,” Köhler later said.
There was talk of advocating economic wars and possible breaches of the constitution.
“In view of Germany’s history in the 20th century, can one accuse a Federal President of worse things?”
Impact on Germany due to attacks in the Red Sea: Bundeswehr soon to be deployed against Houthi attacks?
The current debate is already ongoing.
It no longer seems to be a matter of “if” but rather “how”.
In the case of the Bundeswehr, however, the question of operational capability must be asked - given the recurring problems of the recent past.
Bundeswehr frigates are currently said to lack missiles against the Houthi drones.
However, a spokesman for the German Defense Ministry immediately rejected reports that the German Navy had no forces available to take part in the operation against the Houthi rebels in the Red Sea.
“I can only portray that as false,” he said, pointing to the Class 124 frigates.
“Two are currently ready for combat.
One is in the shipyard,” he added.
These ships were specifically designed for such tasks and placed an emphasis on air defense, including to protect units.
According to the spokesman, logistics also play a role in such operations - which Germany, as is well known, carries out again and again.