As of: March 1, 2024, 11:36 a.m
By: Stefan Krieger
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On his trip to Rome, Chancellor Scholz also met the Italian President.
The Italian Prime Minister is now in the USA.
Berlin/Rome – Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) is traveling to Rome on Friday (March 1st) for a two-day visit.
He wants to meet Italian President Sergio Mattarella there in the afternoon (5 p.m.).
On Saturday, the Chancellor will be received by Pope Francis for an audience in the Vatican.
Political relations between Rome and Berlin have recently been tense.
Differences between the ultra-right government of Giorgia Meloni and the traffic light coalition emerged in migration policy, among other things.
At the same time, both countries are close and important economic partners.
It was only in November that Scholz and Meloni signed a German-Italian action plan in Berlin to deepen cooperation.
Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz visiting the Elbe aircraft factory in Dresden.
© Imago Images
A meeting with Meloni is not planned: the politician is visiting Washington.
On Saturday, Scholz will also take part in the party conference of the European Socialists and Social Democrats (PES) in Rome.
EU Labor Commissioner Nicolas Schmit from Luxembourg is to be officially nominated as the top candidate for the European elections in June.
Scholz comments on rejection of Taurus delivery
Before his trip to Italy, Scholz once again justified his negative stance on a possible delivery of Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine with a possible attack on targets in Moscow.
The cruise missile with a range of 500 kilometers is a weapon "that, if used incorrectly, can reach a specific target somewhere in Moscow," said Scholz on Thursday at a citizens' dialogue in Dresden.
Alluding to Great Britain and France, which, unlike the USA and Germany, have already delivered cruise missiles to Ukraine, he added: “That is why - I will put this in all diplomatic abstractness - others have also made sure that They know exactly where everything ends up.” In the case of Germany, this would mean that they would have to take part in the deployment of Taurus.
“I think that is impossible,” emphasized Scholz.
That is the reason why he believes that there is currently no reason for Taurus to be delivered.
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Scholz is “irritated” by criticism of his attitude
The Chancellor added that he was “irritated” by the criticism because it was mostly ignored that Germany supplied Kiev with many more weapons in the Ukraine war than almost all other countries.
Germany has earmarked seven billion euros for arms deliveries in its budget this year.
The next EU country is to announce three billion euros – “which still have to be deposited,” he said, alluding to France.
If the US Congress does not release new funds, Germany will even be the main supplier, even though it is only a middle power.
“Overall, some people have to make even more effort,” he said, referring to other European countries.
Germany was also the first to supply multiple rocket launchers with the USA and Great Britain and, together with the USA, also heavy battle tanks, said Scholz.
(talk to agencies)