As of: March 10, 2024, 12:32 p.m
By: Nils Hinsberger
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Split
The CDU wants to have another vote on the delivery of Taurus rockets.
Chancellor Scholz continues to speak out against it - like the majority of Germans.
Berlin – Taurus for Ukraine, yes or no?
This question is not only dividing the current debate in the Bundestag, but also parts of the traffic light coalition.
According to Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), the missiles, with a range of 500 kilometers, could ensure that Germany could be drawn into Russia's ruler Vladimir Putin's war, the
dpa
reported .
Supporters of the delivery now say that Scholz does not trust the Ukrainian military to handle the cruise missiles responsibly.
Scholz is worried that Ukraine could use the Taurus missiles for a direct attack against Russia.
The Chancellor has come under fire for his stance.
Political scientist Thomas Jäger told the
Kölnische Rundschau
that Scholz was doing “exactly what Putin wants, namely stirring up fear here.”
The Chancellor receives support from the CDU's former candidate for chancellor, Armin Laschet.
However, the traffic light seems to be rather divided on the question.
Ring exchange as a compromise in the dispute over Taurus delivery to Ukraine?
If the Chancellor cannot bring himself to send the Taurus missiles directly to Ukraine, he should at least agree to a so-called ring swap, says Anton Hofreiter (the Greens).
A ring exchange means that Germany delivers Taurus missiles to a friendly NATO country.
In return, the partner country would send equivalent weapons to Ukraine.
“Before Ukraine doesn’t get any more cruise missiles, exchanging rings is a possibility,” Hofreiter told the newspapers of the
Funke media group
.
Friedrich Merz, head of the CDU, is in favor of supplying Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine.
A corresponding vote in the Bundestag has been announced by the Union parties next week.
(Collage also archive images) © Collage: Andreas Arnold/picture alliance/dpaUncredited/picture alliance/dpa/south korea defense ministry
One sees things differently in parts of the CDU.
Parliamentary group vice-president Johann Wadephul is in favor of delivering the “best system and that is the Taurus,” he told the
Rheinische Post
.
Everything must be done to prevent Ukraine's defeat, said Wadephul.
Through the exchange of rings, Ukraine will receive weapons that are inferior to the Taurus cruise missiles in many respects.
But Scholz is not only facing headwinds in his stance on arms deliveries.
The CDU's ex-chancellor candidate, Armin Laschet, supports the Chancellor's "fundamental position to act carefully and prudently," he told the
Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger
and
Focus Online
.
But Scholz can't get away with Laschet completely without criticism either.
“As Chancellor, I would have traveled to Moscow with Emmanuel Macron,” he said.
Instead of blaming each other, Germany should have sought solidarity with neighboring France and taken diplomatic action against the war in Ukraine.
“The coalition can withstand that” – Habeck looks forward to the Taurus discussion calmly
The fact that different opinions are gathering in the traffic light coalition about the delivery of Taurus rockets to Ukraine is not a problem, said Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck in an interview with
Welt TV
.
The Green Minister also remains calm about another vote in the Bundestag, which the CDU wants to hold next week.
“We always had a few votes in different votes that behaved differently.
The coalition can handle this well,” said Habeck.
He understands both the supporters and the opponents of the deliveries.
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What is the range of a Taurus cruise missile? |
About 500 kilometers |
|---|---|
How many Taurus cruise missiles does Germany have? |
Germany has a total of 600 of the rockets. 150 of them are ready for use. |
Who produces Taurus? |
Taurus is produced by Taurus Systems GmbH – a joint venture between the defense companies MBDA and Saab Dynamics |
How much does a Taurus cruise missile cost? |
Around 950,000 euros |
Habeck's assessment refers to statements by prominent FDP members who announced that they would speak out in favor of the delivery in the upcoming vote.
Even in the first vote by the CDU, people were already sympathetic to a commitment.
The deputy FDP chairman Kubicki said in an interview with the
Münchner Merkur
that he and “at least a dozen other colleagues that I know would have loved to approve the Union proposal.”
In the announced vote, some would defy coalition discipline and vote for delivery.
Majority of population against Taurus delivery - Green Party supporters with a narrow majority in favor
The German population, like the Chancellor, is critical of the Taurus delivery.
According to a current ZDF
political barometer
, only 34 percent of Germans are in favor of deliveries to Ukraine.
A full 59 percent would have voted “no”.
The rejection is greatest among supporters of the AfD (90 percent against) and the BSW (85 percent against).
Only Green Party supporters would be more likely to support a delivery of Taurus rockets.
Around half (54 percent) are in favor of a delivery, closely followed by supporters of the FDP (49 percent in favor).
With his negative attitude, the Chancellor appears to be acting in the interests of the majority of the population.
Supporters of the Union parties who are openly in favor of a delivery are divided, with 45 percent of those surveyed in favor and 47 percent against.
(nhi)