We have been following the Pentagon’s plans to establish "missile defense" positions in Poland and Czech Republic. Up to now, only Vladimir Putin has complained loudly about this; but the German foreign secretary’s office is now openly expressing irritation. Today’s Handelsblatt asks the right question: Wem nützt sie? (Whom does it benefit?):
Die Unzufriedenheit über die Konzentration auf Verfahrensfragen wächst auch deshalb, weil sie zunehmend als Augenwischerei empfunden wird. Da es sich um ein nationales Rüstungsprogramm der Supermacht USA handelt, werden letztlich weder die Russen noch die Europäer wirklich mitreden können. Das verstärkt den Frust, weil man sich in vielen europäischen Hauptstädten mit Blick auf russisches Grollen durchaus als politische Betroffene einer Stationierung sieht.
Reuters reports the German deputy foreign minister Gernot Erler is now warning that the missile shield system is the first phase of a new arms race; and furthermore:
Erler also criticized decisions by nuclear powers Britain, France and the United States to modernize their atomic arsenals, which he said would complicate non-proliferation efforts.
Germany needs to take the lead in forcing the US to bring the discussion into NATO, rather than the bi-lateral approach taken up to now. Could it be that Germany is finally waking up to the fact that it is a world power? See the NZZ from yesterday (Deutschland – die ängstliche Grossmacht):
"The Federal Republic of Germany used to perceive itself as a middle-size power in Europe. And it still sees itself in this role, although the general set-up has changed. The revision of the balance of power which was cemented in Potsdam in 1945 has led to a loss of importance for the Soviet Union, which has now shrunk to Russia, but also for France, while Germany is among the winners in the ‘new world order’. It no longer draws its strength from its economic power alone, as it did during the Cold War. Together with a handful of other states it now possesses the necessary clout to shape international politics. Reunified Germany has grown into a major power, but it’s still clinging to its conservative ideal of being a middle-size power."
