As of: February 21, 2024, 5:02 a.m
By: Marcus Mäckler, Kathrin Braun
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Likes to go on a confrontation course with the Chancellor: FDP defense politician Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann in the German Bundestag.
© Imago/Jens Schicke
The FDP defense politician Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann in an interview about arms deliveries, a US President named Trump and an independently defendable Europe.
Munich - For months, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann has been grilling the Chancellor about his hesitation over the Taurus delivery.
The FDP's top candidate for the European elections is now the face of the Ukraine pushers in Germany.
If Russia wins, Europe's freedom could be "destroyed very quickly," she warned at a Ukraine demonstration on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.
We talked to her about it.
Strack-Zimmermann on Taurus deliveries – support for Ukraine “with everything we have”
Ms. Strack-Zimmermann, why does Scholz resist the Taurus question?
You have to ask him that.
A promise to hand over the Taurus to Ukraine in order to stop Russian supplies would have been the right answer, especially in view of the murder of Alexei Navalny.
It's unfortunate that Taurus has become synonymous with whoever gets their way in politics.
That's not what's relevant, only Ukraine's survival is relevant.
With all the crises, we now lose track of which fire needs to be put out first...
Everything is connected to everything else.
The brutal attack on Ukraine by Russia under Vladimir Putin, which violated international law, has sent the whole world into a tailspin.
Therefore, this fire, which is responsible for all the unrest, needs to be fought first.
If Putin loses this war, then this will also be noticed in the countries of the world that do not accept our life in freedom or even fight against it.
Everyone is looking at Europe, how able and willing it is to defend itself.
That is why we must continue to support Ukraine with everything we have.
Strack-Zimmermann: “It’s about the security of the European continent”
You spoke to Republicans at the Munich Security Conference.
Will a President Trump abandon us?
The Republicans are not stabbing their potential presidential candidate in the back.
Between the lines you can see that some are critical of Trump's statements about NATO.
But you make it clear that despite all the transatlantic friendship - which I also believe in - the Americans expect that we have to do significantly more for our defense.
I think that's understandable; after all, the major crises take place on Europe's doorstep and not on the other side of the Atlantic.
Does Europe have to learn to defend itself?
Of course.
Especially given the fact that Europe can no longer rely 100 percent on the support of the USA.
This scenario is realistic and one should prepare for it.
But not every possible situation deserves to be made public in detail.
Ultimately, it is about the security of the European continent.
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You mean the debate about European nuclear weapons?
We can discuss a lot of things, such as the delivery of tanks or cruise missiles to Ukraine - even if we are less familiar with the subject.
But unlike conventional weapons, the atomic bomb should never be used.
We're talking about a weapon of mass destruction.
Experts will explain to you what a strategically complex deterrent this is.
Common Defense: Don’t “overwhelm” the European Army
How could Trump make us so panicky?
We have seen how unpredictable Trump is.
The Western world has become accustomed to living under the protection of this great ally since the end of the Second World War.
The fact that a turning point also means that this security policy matter of course could no longer be present is, of course, frightening.
You have been calling for a European army for a long time.
We should get used to the idea and move forward step by step.
The issue of security is fundamentally a national responsibility.
However, there is already a wide range of bilateral military cooperation.
The Netherlands and Germany or the Franco-German brigade are very good examples of this.
Over time, other EU states could join.
A European army is of course not something that can be rushed.
What are you specifically asking for?
An appropriate command structure and joint procurement of military equipment.
Nothing profane at all.
After the European elections, we should start with a fully-fledged defense and security committee - as well as a commissioner who will take on this big issue.