Future of the INF Treaty
German Bundestag, November 8, 2018, Plenarprotokoll 19/61, p. 6880
[Roland Hartwig is an
Alternative für Deutschland
Bundestag member from the western German state of Nordrhein-Westphalen. He is a
lawyer with over 30 years experience with the Bayer concern, his duties
including world-wide responsibility for patents and licenses, data defense and
other matters. Both the United States and Russia have recently withdrawn from
the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces agreement.]
After a long time of successful peace policy in Europe, many are
of the opinion that we see before us the beginning of a new Cold War. I think
they are right. Not three decades after the fall of the Wall, a dividing line
again runs through Europe and along this line there is live fire.
In eastern Ukraine since 2014, 10,000 people have been killed. In
response, NATO demonstrates a presence on the eastern flank and is presently
holding a maneuver in Norway with 55,000 soldiers. That is the largest maneuver
since the end of the Soviet Union. For years, the Russians organize mass
maneuvers. In September, together with China, one such was carried out with
300,000 soldiers.
For years, the world-wide armaments expenditures increase massively
and, with North Korea, the number of potential nuclear powers climbs to nine.
We are de facto again in a new arms race. An additional challenge is thereby
presented, which has already been mentioned – new weapons systems: small,
high-technology nuclear weapons, supersonic weapons, space weaponry, autonomous
weapons and also new methods of warfare; for example, hybrid warfare.
We of the AfD have voted in the foreign affairs committee for the motion
of the CDU/CSU and SPD delegations here being discussed which includes
requirements of elementary importance for the security of our country and for
Europe. We must however consider that the mutual accusations of the Russians
and Americans of having violated the INF Treaty, and the allusions to arsenals
of other nations not taken into consideration by the INF Treaty, are clear
indications that the INF Treaty is no longer suited to the present
requirements.
Armin-Paulus
Hampel (AfD) It is so!
We therefore expect the Treaty to be withdrawn. Against the
background of the present situation, it appears to us today that a new treaty
negotiation is in order which includes all relevant parties and possible new
weapons systems.
We must realize how directly involved are Germany and Europe. With
the announced withdrawal of the Americans from the INF Treaty is the way again
made clear for the stationing of land-based, intermediate-range rockets in the
EU and in the Kaliningrad exclave. It is vital that one maintain in sight that
the risk thereby again increases that Europe will become a battlefield of the
nuclear powers.
None of us here can advance the pretension of having prepared a
first draft. But permit me to sketch some ideas for discussion which now
apparently are finding their opening phrase. We should all exert ourselves, all
the relevant nations – China has already been mentioned –, to achieve a new
treaty framework. A treaty framework that binds the two principals and a
weapons system that is being acquired by an increasing number of other parties
can have no long-term stability.
The new regime should not be limited to land-based,
intermediate-range rockets only but sea-based systems should also be included.
And the inclusion of ballistic, nuclear-capable, short-range rockets ought also
to be considered.
When we speak of the security of the European continent, then we
should also undertake a renewed consideration of the tactical nuclear weapons
stored in Europe. A limited nuclear war would ultimately weigh heavily upon our
account. In this consideration is it however also important to mention that we
require a persuasive conventional defense so that, in the case of an attack, it
will not be necessary to prematurely use the nuclear cudgel.
When Spiegel in 1962 in
an article entitled “Conditional Defense Readiness” referred to the deficient
equipment of the Bundeswehr, the responsible journalists were prosecuted for
treason. There ensued a government crisis. Today, the Bundeswehr’s deficient
armament is for many a problem, although apparently not for anyone in the government.
Gorbachev once said: we can only guarantee a lasting peace in
Europe when the Western structures, institutions and thinking are scrutinized.
We also should take a stab at that. We cannot have a one-dimensional image of
Russia as enemy. Yes, notions of political values have drifted apart but we
must again seek the path between one another.
And we here in Europe must put our own house in order. Let us
therefore grasp the present crisis of the INF Treaty as an opportunity to
together build a new, global treaty framework which will be truly suitable to
the demands of the present time.
Many thanks.
[Translated by Todd Martin]
