KChancellor Olaf Scholz expects a signal of cohesion and determination from the NATO summit in Madrid in view of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. “A partnership with Russia, as stated in the Strategic Concept of 2010, is unimaginable for the foreseeable future with Putin’s aggressive, imperialist Russia,” said the SPD politician on Wednesday in a government statement on the upcoming summit meetings of the European Union, the G-7 group of economically strong democracies and NATO in the Bundestag in Berlin.
At the same time, the Chancellor warned against drawing the wrong conclusions. “It would be unwise for us to denounce the NATO-Russia Founding Act,” he said. That would only play into the hands of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his propaganda. The founding act reaffirms the very principles that Putin so blatantly violates: renouncing violence, respecting borders, the sovereignty of independent states. Putin should be reminded of this again and again.
“We will defend every square meter of Alliance territory”
Against the background of the dispute between Russia and Lithuania over the Baltic Sea exclave of Kaliningrad, Scholz assured the eastern NATO partners of Germany’s full alliance solidarity. “We will defend every square meter of the alliance area,” said the SPD politician.
From their own history, the Germans know what they owe this promise, said Scholz. “And that’s why our NATO partners in Eastern Europe can rely on Germany today. With this commitment, we are going to the NATO summit next week.” Because other allies would also commit themselves to shared responsibility for security with very specific contributions, he was firmly convinced: “The NATO summit will send out a signal of cohesion and determination.”
Shortly before the EU summit on Thursday and Friday, Scholz is in favor of officially declaring Ukraine a candidate for EU membership. Referring to the 27 member states, the SPD politician explained in the Bundestag on Wednesday that he would do his utmost to ensure that the entire EU said “yes” as one. The Ukrainians also know that the path to the EU is full of prerequisites. But they want to go now because they expect less corruption and influence of oligarchs as well as more rule of law, transparency, democracy and a stronger economy.
The Chancellor emphasized that during his visit to the capital Kyiv he had made clear Germany’s approval of the candidate status for Ukraine and its neighboring Republic of Moldova – in unison with French President Emmanuel Macron, Italy’s Prime Minister Mario Draghi and Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis. Scholz pointed out that the EU Commission had named reform steps. At the same time, the EU must also make itself “receptive” and reform structures and procedures. He promotes making more decisions with a qualified majority in the future, for example in foreign policy.
The Chancellor also reiterated that the countries of the Western Balkans, after many years, were also demanding clear prospects. “The EU must finally give the green light for the accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia.” The heads of state and government of the European Union will discuss this on Thursday and Friday in Brussels.