Rüdiger Lucassen, April 5, 2019, Arms Exports

Rüdiger Lucassen

Arms Exports

German Bundestag, April 5, 2019, Plenarprotokoll 19/93, pp. 11210-11211

[Rüdiger Lucassen is an Alternative für Deutschland Bundestag member from the western German state of Nordrhein-Westphalen. He is a retired army colonel.]

Frau President. Ladies and gentlemen.

Who does not stand up openly for his convictions, and these clarify and defend, will be pushed into the corner. That is happening indeed again to the CDU. For that, the preceding speaker from the CDU has furnished proof. The government actually wants to export but is not in a position to brake the radical left in its own ranks. When realists do not stand up for their convictions, submission follows.

The German armaments export regulations are clear: No deliveries to states waging war. The Saudi Arabians are conducting a war in Yemen. The balance: Up to at least 6,000 dead; the Saudis alone shall have lost 3,000 soldiers. That is a war. It thence follows for the AfD: A complete stop of deliveries, even for systems containing German components.

            Kirsten Tackmann (Linke): That is radical left!

Germany is directed to the export of defense technology. Despite the immense replacement needs of our own armed forces, the Bundeswehr can never obtain sufficient numbers of units so as to be able to pay for the research, development and production of present-day weapons systems.

            Kirsten Tackmann (Linke): So, Europe!

German armaments makers require a reliable export quota to be able to continue to exist. The AfD wants this quota because we want a national defense industry, because we desire the domestic maintenance of key technologies.

Large armaments proposals are too expensive and technologically demanding for Germany alone to be able to develop and construct. For armaments, we need international cooperation. The AfD wants this cooperation. International consortia just so need exports so as to be able to build the weapons systems of the future. Who does not want that must pay the difference out of his own pocket. A helicopter or U-boat would cost four or five times more. What has that to do with the left?

            Kirsten Tackmann (Linke): They perhaps would at least fly!

It does not in any case conform with other governments. France and Great Britain have again this week made very clear what they think of German Moralpolitik – namely nothing.

Who wants international armaments cooperation must also be willing to sell. The AfD stands for such a principle. The AfD wants international armaments cooperation. What we however do not want is a centralized control from Brussels.

The AfD is for the free market in armaments. That means, states associate with one another to determine their needs in military capability and then announce them in common. Afterwards must it be left to the free market to cooperate and make offers. A Brussels bureaucrat stands in the way of the power and creativity of a free market. On this basis, we also decisively reject the EU defense fund. This fund is a construct of a planned economy to the disadvantage of Germany.

Ladies and gentlemen, arms export policy is not feel-good policy. Arms export policy is Realpolitik for the defense of our country’s interests and security. Yes, who sells defense technology undergoes a risk.

            Kirsten Tackmann (Linke): “Risk” is good!

No one can say whether a purchasing country ten years later will wage war and employ German weapons in this war. In the end remains the balancing of various interests. For the AfD, the security and independence of the German people are always the first priority. A domestic defense technology industry is therefore a basic requirement.

Ladies and gentlemen, Germany and Europe are losing contact with defense technology. The hostility to all things military in many parts of the political establishments contributes considerably to that. That is not moral. It is moral to take earnestly the duty to defend our citizens, to arm our country against dangers and to secure the future freedom of the German people.

[Translated by Todd Martin]

European Election Program, 9th European Parliament 2019, Defense and Security Policy

European Election Program

Program of the Alternative für Deutschland

     for Election of the 9th European Parliament 2019

3.2 Defense and Security Policy

3.2.1 No EU Army

Europe will be defended by NATO. The AfD therefore strictly rejects the creation of a European army since this disposes no democratic legitimacy and would mean a further surrender of sovereignty of the European states. And it would not solve the basic problems of European defense.

Only the German Bundestag in the future may decide over the commitment of the German armed forces. We reject the Permanent Structured Cooperation (Pesco) as preliminary to an EU army, the redundant structures of the EU (for example, battle groups and supplementary EU staff) as well as a European defense fund and a European “peace facility”. The AfD instead demands the strengthening of NATO’s European pillar and herein the increase of Germany’s role and  influence.

3.2.2 Reconstruction of the Bundeswehr’s Mission Capability

Germany’s defense capability must be reconstructed without delay. Initially, the most serious shortages and problems concerning the present state of personnel and armament must be solved, the current structures finally be filled and the armed forces again made ready for the future. We demand the uninterrupted adaptation of the German defense budget to NATO’s 2% goal. The fulfillment of this goal serves to renew our armed forces’ mission capability. On this account is required the re-building of the Bundeswehr to a size necessary for national and alliance defense, one which also guarantees an unrestricted observance of its national duties in the areas of disaster relief (Basic Law, Art. 35…), counter-terrorism (Basic Law, Art. 87…) and cyber-defense. The securing of personnel fundamentals and more adequate structures for the Bundeswehr will only be possible with the lifting of the suspension of the defense duty [Wehrpflicht].

3.2.3 Maintenance of German and European Defense Technology Industry

The AfD demands the maintenance of defense technology capability, the securing of this high technology sector’s employment positions, and planning security for German industry and our armed forces. Therefore must be initiated, among others, a new defense technology program. In the area of future armaments cooperation, we stand for the defense of German interests. German key technologies must not be permitted to be sold off to third parties; concerning which, there must be observed a balanced relation between the financing and the allotted production in Germany. Germany must strive for systems leadership in key capabilities.

[Translated by Todd Martin]

European Election Program, 9th European Parliament 2019, Foreign Policy

European Election Program

Program of the Alternative für Deutschland

     for Election of the 9th European Parliament 2019

3.1 Foreign Policy

3.1.1 Foreign Policy. Germany and Europe in Changing International Relations

The purpose of German foreign policy is the maintenance of a sovereign Germany which guarantees freedom, law and security for its citizens. We stand for a Europe of nations [Vaterländer] and reject the EU’s centralizing efforts. Core competences and authority of decision in the area of foreign and security policy must remain the responsibility of the member states.The AfD is committed to a foreign policy directed by German interests. The requirements of Realpolitik are the guiding principle, not unrealistic ideologies. Conscious of its responsibilities, Germany must therefore take up a leadership role in the European community of states.

A stable, peaceful order in Europe requires a balanced cooperation, not only with the USA but also with Russia. The legitimate security interests of all European states are thereby taken into consideration. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSZE) is an essential element of the European order of peace. We are committed to respect for human rights and thereby especially to the peoples’ right to self-determination. At the same time, we demand observance of the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of states by other powers and non-state actors.

3.1.2 The Gestaltung of European Foreign Policy

The AfD rejects the communization [Vergemeinschaffung] of European foreign and security policy (GASP) and of the European foreign service. Instead, we are for a concentration on inter-state determination within Europe.

3.1.3 European Cooperation

France remains an important partner in Europe. German interests however are in the future to be given much stronger consideration. The close relations with Great Britain must also be retained after its exit from the European Union. On that account we support the efforts of the Visegrad states for the maintenance of European identity.

3.1.4 Alliance Partner USA

Good relations with the USA are of essential importance for Europe and Germany. A determination of interests with equality and mutual respect is required. The change in U.S. foreign policy compels Germany and the other European states to independently formulate their interests and also opens up an opportunity to make the most of them.

3.1.5 Russia

The historical and economic ties with Russia demand a reciprocal arrangement of interests which serves the good of all European peoples. Only with Russia’s inclusion is a stable order of peace in Europe imaginable. We regard the sanctions imposed against Russia as being mis-directed [nicht zielführend]. The AfD is committed to their removal and a normalization of relations with Russia. We favor a strengthened cooperation with the Eurasian Economic Community and support the extension of the present gas pipeline in the Baltic Sea (Nord Stream 2) between Russia and Germany in consideration of the supply security of the central European countries. Thereby will our gas supply and that of other European partners be put on a broader basis.

3.1.6 China

We wish to extend economic, political and cultural contacts with China, at the same time however arriving at a mutual approximation of the legal parameters for trade and investment. Pending that, the purchase of European firms by Chinese-directed firms must be controlled by competition and cartel law, limited, and in case of emergency, stopped. We are correspondingly opposed to the selling off of German and European technology.

3.1.7 Turkey

Culturally, Turkey does not belong to Europe. The AfD demands the immediate termination of accession negotiations between the EU and Turkey and the suspension of financial remedial aid.

3.1.8 Syria

During the war, Germany received over one-half million Syrian war refugees who now without delay must be returned. The federal government thus must enter into negotiations with Syrian authorities and exert itself within the EU for the lifting of sanctions against Syria. 

[Translated by Todd Martin]