Quick, who is the Foreign Minister of Germany? Did you say Frank-Walter Steinmeier? If so, you are probably the only one of my readers who did.
Steinmeier is the head of the Social Democrat party of Germany and he is currently foreign minister in the "grand coalition" government headed by Angela Merkel of the Christian Democratic Union party. After the last election, the conservative CDU formed the coalition with the socialists rather than join with the small parties. Steinmeier got the foreign ministry in the deal since he was head of the socialist party.
Now that you know the background, it's worth looking at the statement made today by the German foreign minister. Steinmeier criticized NATO for "warmongering" with regard to Russia. He actually used that word (of course, in German). According to Steinmeier it is wrong for NATO to station troops in eastern Poland or in the Baltic states like Estonia or Lithuania because it unnecessarily provokes the Russians.
It's rather strange to see this sort of thinking applied to Russia. After all, in the last decade, Russia has invaded its neighbor to the south, Georgia and taken control of two provinces. Russia has also invaded Ukraine and taken over Crimea and much of the eastern portion of its neighbor. Neither Georgia or Ukraine had done anything to provoke the Russian attacks. Indeed, all that Ukraine was planning on doing was to sign a trade agreement with the European Union. Russia was angered that Ukraine was drawing closer to the rest of Europe and moving away from Russian domination. There are many other nations like Poland, Lithuania and Estonia that have been subjugated by the Russians at various times during the last century. These nations are members of NATO and they are nervous that the Russians may be coming. Sending NATO forces into these countries is simply a way for NATO to make clear that it will defend its member states and that it will not be intimidated by Russia. The moves are about as far from warmongering as is possible.
Steinmeier is the head of the Social Democrat party of Germany and he is currently foreign minister in the "grand coalition" government headed by Angela Merkel of the Christian Democratic Union party. After the last election, the conservative CDU formed the coalition with the socialists rather than join with the small parties. Steinmeier got the foreign ministry in the deal since he was head of the socialist party.
Now that you know the background, it's worth looking at the statement made today by the German foreign minister. Steinmeier criticized NATO for "warmongering" with regard to Russia. He actually used that word (of course, in German). According to Steinmeier it is wrong for NATO to station troops in eastern Poland or in the Baltic states like Estonia or Lithuania because it unnecessarily provokes the Russians.
It's rather strange to see this sort of thinking applied to Russia. After all, in the last decade, Russia has invaded its neighbor to the south, Georgia and taken control of two provinces. Russia has also invaded Ukraine and taken over Crimea and much of the eastern portion of its neighbor. Neither Georgia or Ukraine had done anything to provoke the Russian attacks. Indeed, all that Ukraine was planning on doing was to sign a trade agreement with the European Union. Russia was angered that Ukraine was drawing closer to the rest of Europe and moving away from Russian domination. There are many other nations like Poland, Lithuania and Estonia that have been subjugated by the Russians at various times during the last century. These nations are members of NATO and they are nervous that the Russians may be coming. Sending NATO forces into these countries is simply a way for NATO to make clear that it will defend its member states and that it will not be intimidated by Russia. The moves are about as far from warmongering as is possible.
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