Defense talk at Illner
EPP leader Weber calls for entry into the European army
By Marko Schlichting
February 2, 2024, 6:31 a.m
In view of growing military uncertainty for Europe, the chairman of the European People’s Party Manfred Weber is calling for the entry into a European army. In the ZDF talk show Maybrit Illner he also spoke out in favor of a European arms industry.
What’s next with aid for Ukraine? The guests on the ZDF talk show Maybrit Illner discussed this on Thursday evening. In fact, it is unclear whether the USA will continue to help the country in the current framework, especially if the Republican Donald Trump wins the majority in the presidential elections in November. Aid to Ukraine is controversial in his party.
The chairman of the European People’s Party, Manfred Weber, was in Ukraine a few days ago. “The mood I take with me is determination, the will to win this fight, to fight for our own freedom, for our own democracy,” is his summary. But this is becoming increasingly difficult for people in Ukraine. The Russian artillery superiority is very clear, the Ukrainian army urgently needs ammunition.
The special Taurus trait
FDP politician Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann also knows this. The chairwoman of the Defense Committee in the Bundestag says: “There is no question that we are doing an extraordinary amount. But that is not enough.” This applies to both the EU and Germany.
The FDP and the Greens have long been calling for Taurus cruise missiles to be delivered to the war zone, but Chancellor Olaf Scholz is hesitant. Frank Sauer, security expert at the Bundeswehr University in Munich, cannot imagine the reason for this. The cruise missiles could travel very long distances, but this could be solved by reprogramming the built-in software.
However, the Taurus weapons have one special feature: the warhead. Sauer explains: “It can recognize what it is currently flying through, and it can also count which layers of concrete it has already penetrated, for example. And with this I can do something that the other systems cannot do, or can only do with a lot of luck “He can destroy the Kerch Bridge.”
The Kerch Bridge, also known as the Crimean Bridge, which was officially opened in 2018, is of great strategic importance for the Russian army. It connects Crimea with the Russian province of Krasnodar and is the central transport route for Russian supplies to occupied Crimea. That’s why Ukrainian military officials have made their destruction their primary goal. A Taurus warhead could count how many layers of concrete it had to penetrate to the bridge pillar and explode in exactly the right place. “That would be a very welcome capability for Ukraine,” explains Sauer.
USA no permanent protector – European army as an alternative
“Europe has to dress warmly,” predicts ex-ZDF presenter Claus Kleber. In his opinion, this is mainly due to the USA. He is certain: “Trump will not win the elections a second time.” But that wouldn’t matter at all. Both the Republicans and the Democrats in the USA wanted Europe to finally solve its problems itself.
This demand is correct, says Weber. “330 million Americans will permanently defend 400 million Europeans. That won’t work. And that’s why we have to get on our feet now. That will be a really big question in this European election year: How can Europe continue to guarantee peace? And we will “We can only do this if we join forces now.” There are many problems that need to be solved at the European level, such as cybersecurity or a European missile defense shield. To do this, however, the member states of the European Union must have the will to move forward. Weber couldn’t recognize it. That’s why he’s calling for an initiative from French President Macron and Chancellor Scholz. Weber: “That now means joining a European army.”
He met with open ears at Strack-Zimmermann. The problems identified by Weber have been known for a long time. But the European Commission has not yet taken any initiative on this. “First of all, the Commission needs someone who is exclusively concerned with the European security project,” demands the FDP top candidate in the European Parliament elections. And a new European foreign policy is needed. “That also means moving away from this geographical view of each country.” The European Parliament must also deal with this task, demands Strack-Zimmermann.
Ursula Schröder from the Institute for Security Research and Peace Policy at the University of Hamburg considers a European army to be illusory. She won’t come, and neither will anyone who is responsible for security in the EU Commission. “Because the EU regulations don’t allow that.” There will also be no common European arms policy for economic reasons in some countries. “This will not change unless there is a reform of the political institutions of the European Union.”
“The crucial thing is: I think the gong has now arrived,” says Strack-Zimmermann. It is clear that the conditions need to be changed. “And if the time isn’t right now – then when?”