Tesla founder Elon Musk criticizes the use of German NGO ships in the Mediterranean. The German Foreign Ministry reacts dryly.
Tesla founder Elon Musk uses his X platform (formerly Twitter) to criticize the German government. He shared a post from “RadioGénova” on Friday that said “eight German NGO ships are currently collecting illegal migrants in the Mediterranean and unloading them in Italy”. Germany is subsidizing these NGOs. “I hope AFD wins the elections to stop this European suicide,” the post continued. Musk wrote: “Is the German public aware of this?”
The German Foreign Ministry reacted quickly and dryly: “Yes. And that’s called saving lives.” (Ed.)
Italy: “Risk that NGO ships help increase immigration”
The Italian government had already expressed “surprise” at seven NGO ships to rescue migrants flying the German flag between Libya, Tunisia and Italy. “Our positions on NGOs are emphasized differently,” said Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani in Berlin. “We all want to save lives, but there is a risk that NGO ships will contribute to increased immigration.” He expressed Italy’s reservations to his German counterpart, Annalena Baerbock. “Because if we want to fund NGOs, we cannot do it to bring migrants to other people’s homes,” explained Tajani. “When I fund an NGO, I fund it to bring it to my home and not to other people’s homes.”