EU Parliament, Strasbourg, P10 CRE REV(2026)01-22(4-0016-0000).
Herr President. Ladies and gentlemen.
The drones report of colleague Pozņaks is distinguished by excellent technical knowledge, yet it completely ignores the factual situation of risk in which we find ourselves. We need to be aware that Europe today stands before a security policy shambles. For decades it was believed to be able to exercise influence as an economic power alone. Yet only who is equipped by his own military strength can also effectively manage security policy. As far as the project is to create our own European defense technology and industrial base, it is correct, and the AfD and ESN will essentially support it. The beginning of every security policy realignment however needs be a qualified situation assessment. It is usual in security policy that you know how to distinguish between risks and threats. A threat is present where the aggressor possesses the intent as well as the capabilities to inflict a harm on others. Is Europe, are the European NATO members presently threatened militarily? The answer to that can only be: No, they are not. And not by Russia – regardless of how often this nonsense is repeated. Russia has neither the intent nor the capabilities to successfully attack and invade a NATO member. The Russian armed forces have not succeeded in four years to completely occupy even just the Donbass, although that is the declared aim of the Russian leadership. Russia at Berlin, Russia in Paris – do you really believe that, Frau Strack-Zimmermann? And why, at all? Does Russia need more territory? Does Russia perhaps need the European rare earths?
Colleagues, it is quite obviously an absurd scenario with which the peoples of our states shall be intimidated and be made pliant. It is exactly so unrealistic to nevertheless believe the Russian armed forces can again be driven back to the borders of 1991. The unfortunate words of colleague Reuten which the Parliament approved yesterday – his assertion that Russia’s defeat in the Ukraine is the most effective and thrifty investment in the European security – are a complete security policy false projection. The AFD and the ESN delegations stand for a security policy which is oriented to the realities. According to Carl von Clausewitz in his great work Vom Kriege, the political and moral powers are decisive for success in combat, especially the will of the fighting society. This will does not arise from the statements of self-righteous politicians. It arises only when the people know whom and what they should defend.
A Europe which denies its borders, a Europe which permits massive, illegal immigration, a Europe which passively witnesses an Islamization instead of preventing it, a Europe the elites of which threaten freedom of opinion, a Europe which teaches the young people rainbow propaganda instead of love of country, a Europe which is consumed by a loss of meaning and an inner fatigue – such a Europe can produce no people who will fight for their self-preservation.
In a recent survey in Germany, just 38 percent of those questioned said they were ready to support the Bundeswehr in an emergency. 59 percent answered negatively [ablehnend]. Vice-president Vance unmistakably expressed it at the Munich Security conference: The greatest threat for Europe is not Russia or China, but the retreat of fundamental values within Europe itself. Colleagues, so long as the political elites of Europe – and to that belongs this Parliament – manage a refusal of cultural conscription [kulturelle Wehrdienstverweigerung betrieben], they should not complain when young people are no longer ready to fight for Europe. Just when we again know for what we should fight, will we also be able to build up those military capabilities which colleague Pozņaks so impressively identified in his report.
[trans: tem]
