Thursday, December 9th, 2021
Inaugural visit to Paris
Baerbock threatens Russia in the Ukraine conflict
On her first morning in the new office, Annalena Baerbock visits the French foreign minister. The office colleagues are already separating the first differences. In relation to France, however, the new foreign minister emphasizes the partnership – in relation to Russia she is adopting a different tone.
In the worsening conflict in Ukraine, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock threatened Russia with serious consequences if it escalated. “Russia would pay a high political and, above all, economic price for a renewed violation of Ukrainian statehood,” said the Green politician after a meeting with her French colleague Jean-Yves Le Drian in Paris. Military escalation must be avoided.
Solutions can only be found through diplomatic channels, said Baerbock. You and Le Drian are ready to get deeply involved personally. France and Germany mediate in the Normandy format conflict between Ukraine and Russia, which has been going on since 2014. However, the peace plan agreed in Minsk in 2015 is on hold. Le Drian said France and Germany wanted to hold a new meeting at ministerial level as soon as possible.
Baerbock says “Non” to “green” nuclear power
Baerbock, meanwhile, is sticking to the rejection of the French plans to classify nuclear power as “green” energy. “It is well known that we have different positions on the nuclear issue,” said the Green politician after the meeting with Le Drian. At the same time, Baerbock emphasized the outstanding importance of Franco-German relations for the future of the EU.
The subject of so-called taxonomy will be discussed at all levels, not only as Foreign Minister, but also between Chancellor Olaf Scholz and President Emmanuel Macron, as well as at the European level in Brussels. It is still particularly controversial in the EU whether nuclear power and gas can also be considered sustainable. The EU countries have been arguing about this for months. France, together with countries like Poland and the Czech Republic, want to label nuclear power as “green” at all costs. Germany, Luxembourg and Austria, among others, are strictly against it.
Scholz wants to travel to Macron on Friday for his inaugural visit. Despite continuing differences in individual issues, Baerbock endeavored to leave the impression of a close and intensive partnership with Paris. She said goodbye to her counterpart and thanked her “for this really warm and friendly welcome”. She said: “What could be nicer for a foreign minister than to be in the new office in Paris on the first morning.”
Europe is “the linchpin of German foreign policy”. Baerbock added: “A strong Europe needs strong Franco-German impulses for this.” Europe would be weaker if Germany did not invest in relations between Paris and Berlin. With a view to France taking over the EU Council Presidency in early 2022, Baerbock said the conference on the future of Europe initiated by Paris would be an important milestone for the EU.