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Sanctions, arms deliveries, military investment plan: the German Chancellor buried this weekend the doctrine which had been that of his country since 1945, believing that the Russian invasion brought the world “into a new era” .
The “checkbook diplomacy” was definitively buried this weekend by the Germans. By announcing arms deliveries to Ukraine and releasing 100 billion euros for the modernization of its army, the Chancellor has made a historic turnaround in Germany’s international policy. “Russia’s attack on Ukraine is a turning point”insisted Olaf Scholz on Sunday during an extraordinary session of the Federal Assembly (Bundestag).
After having refused for months to deliver weapons to Kiev, Germany decided on Saturday evening to provide 1,400 anti-tank rocket launchers, 500 Stinger surface-to-air missiles (anti-aircraft defense), 14 armored vehicles but also 10 000 tons of fuel. Berlin has also authorized Estonia to deliver howitzers drawn from the stocks of the former East German army (GDR).
Berlin suddenly realized that Ukraine needed guns more than diplomacy. “After Russia’s shameful attack, Ukrainians have the right to defend themselves. Germany to support Ukraine with equipment [de guerre]», said Saturday evening Annalena Baerbock, the Ecologist Minister of Foreign Affairs, who had nevertheless defended body and soul, for months, the pacifist line of her party, at least what was left of it.
“Germany has woken up”
Revive it…