Armin-Paulus
Hampel
Nuclear
Weapons
German
Bundestag, June 18, 2020, Plenarprotokoll 19/166, pp. 20771-20772
[Armin-Paulus Hampel is an Alternative für
Deutschland Bundestag member from the western German state of Lower Saxony. He
is the AfD’s foreign policy spokesman in the Bundestag and here responds to
motions from the Linke and Green parties concerning nuclear weapons.]
Many
thanks. Herr President. Ladies and gentlemen. We have no visitors. Dear
viewers, if you are still at the screens at home.
Much,
dear Herr Löbel, – where is he sitting? – of what you have said is indeed correct.
It is agreed that we Germans have a great interest in the continuation of this
treaty. We have an interest in the retention of INF regulations and that we
have no new intermediate-range missiles in Europe. Only, what is sad is – you can
describe that in all the particulars, regardless of from which delegation –: In
Washington, ladies and gentlemen, it is of interest to kein Schwein.
What
is in fact sad is: Whether a sack of rice turns over in China or is discussed
in the Bundestag is no longer of interest in Washington, and that did not start
with Donald Trump, but I refer to the fact that it was already a demand of the
Obama administration that the German defense proportion be cranked up to 2 percent.
And the Democrats in Congress have voted to cover Germany with sanctions on
account of Nord Stream 2. Why all that? Because since the Trump presidency,
there is no longer a dialogue between the United States and the Federal Republic
of Germany. Because we are developing a willingness to draw red lines with American
presidents.
A
German Federal president ignores the U.S. president during his visit in the U.S.A.,
a former foreign minister calls him a preacher of hate during an election
campaign, and Frau Merkel renounces the recent G7 because it is suspected – or hoped
– that eventually in the autumn the man could no longer be president. That is
the present – what is called “policy”? – non-policy. In the foreign affairs
committee we questioned the state minister. If such a situation, as it now is,
had existed in earlier times, then any German foreign minister would have
immediately flown to Washington: The chancellor he would have taken with him or
turned around, and the problem would have been discussed with the American
friends as long as until it was off the table. Today, kein Schwein any longer travels to Washington. First, we are not
welcome; second, we are drawing red lines;
Jürgen Hardt (CDU/CSU): Corona!
and
third, there was not once in the questions to the Federal government a travel
date from Herr Maas or Frau Merkel. That is unbelievable in today’s
German-American situation.
Heike Hänsel (Linke): You can
depart!
I
can say one thing to you: To the question, Why then does not Frau Merkel
travel?, it was put out that Corona travel conditions could make problems. So absurd
is the discussion in the foreign affairs committee.
Back
to the theme.
Heike Hänsel (Linke): Yes, to the
theme!
For
us, a further extension of the treaty is interesting, important and good. But
we must well prepare ourselves to again conduct a dialogue with the Americans,
and that in fact on a basis of Realpolitik
and not on a basis of trauma à la Merkel and Maas. You must live with the
president that you have in Washington, and not dream of someone who perhaps in
the autumn may not be there. World affairs go on.
We
are thus in favor of seeking an understanding with Russia – I have often said it
– so that the INF treaty may perhaps continue on the basis of a common European
regulation.
Heike Hänsel (Linke): The colleague
has said the opposite. What does the
AfD want?
In
regards the START treaty, there remains nothing for you to do other than to
travel to Washington. Only, I figure it is to be doubted whether today that
exalted height is still a possibility. Again: The German lament, and your
lament, Frau colleague, is of present interest to kein Schwein. That is the sad reality.
I
thank you, ladies and gentlemen.
[Translated by Todd Martin]
