German Bundestag, Plenarprotokoll 20/48, pp.
5106-5107.
Right honorable Frau President. Excellencies. Dear
colleagues.
With Sweden and Finland, two European nations join NATO upon
which Germany and the alliance can rely. Both countries maintain high value
armed forces. Sweden re-activated the defense duty in 2018. Finland has a
reservists corps which is superior even to many European regular armies. And
quite important: The culture of both of these northern countries guarantees a
smooth integration into the alliance.
Germany’s security will profit directly from this expansion.
Who today agrees to the reception of Sweden and Finland into NATO acknowledges
it for Germany’s security. Sweden and Finland strengthen the northern flank of
NATO. The last weeks however have shown where the weakness of the alliance
lies: On the southern flank. Turkey has again used the entrance negotiations to
extort Europe. Erdogan has thereby once again demonstrated that Turkey will
never be a part of Europe.
Ladies and gentlemen, the northern expansion offers the
opportunity to finally strengthen the European pillar of NATO. Who does this
can bury a still-born like the EU army. For another thing, it is the way to a
European NATO along with the way to a greater independence from the U.S.A. That
is for Germany and Europe a goal of immense significance. I may remind the
Federal government that independence from America during the Trump time was
largely in fashion. You should now show that this viewpoint not only had to do
with your aversion to Trump but was in fact strategically founded.
A European NATO is a necessity so as to free Europe from the
vise grip of the great powers. Sweden and Finland can contribute to that. As a
welcoming gift, the Federal government should finally let deeds follow the many
words. The goal must be to build up the Bundeswehr as Europe’s army of greatest
combat strength and to undertake leadership [die Bundeswehr zur kampfstärksten Armee Europas aufzubauen und Führung
zu übernehmen]. Strategic autonomy will not be made a present; one must
take it upon oneself.
Many thanks.
[trans: tem]
