German Chancellor Olaf Scholz declared that to prevent the deployment of American long-range missiles in Germany, Russia must first cease its war against Ukraine. He also expressed regret over Russia’s neglect of arms control agreements.
“The first thing Russia would have to do (for Germany to refuse the deployment of American weapons) is to stop the dreadful war of conquest against Ukraine and abandon attempts to conquer the entire country,” Scholz stated.
According to Scholz, deploying American missiles on German soil would serve as a deterrent, ensuring Germany’s security from potential attacks. He dismissed concerns that the planned deployment could escalate tensions with Russia.
“We need deterrence capabilities in addition to what we already have, such as cruise missiles and conventional long-range weapons,” Scholz added.
Scholz also expressed his disappointment on behalf of NATO over Russia’s extensive neglect of arms control agreements over the past decades.
“We all would like to live in a world where arms control is highly significant again. But now, it’s about ensuring our security through necessary deterrence to prevent war,” he emphasised.
During the NATO summit in Washington, it was revealed that the United States and Germany had agreed to deploy Tomahawk missiles in Germany to bolster deterrence and protect NATO allies.
Scholz welcomed the plan to station American long-range missiles in Germany, stating that the decision “perfectly fits into the German government’s security strategy.”
On 13 July, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned that European capitals would become “potential targets” if European countries agreed to host American long-range missiles.
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