It is hard to imagine a more unsuccessful statement that would provoke the opposition, but also a half-majority and even a key ally like the United Kingdom. But Olaf Scholz did it. And considering that he had formulated this justification with a touch of condescension: he was surprised to have to explain something so “obvious” to the Germans. After months of pressure and controversy, a few days ago the German Chancellor finally explained the reasons for his “no” to sending the Taurus to Ukraine. Unleashing a storm that shows no signs of abating.
In fact, Scholz argued that these missiles had “a very long range” and that “what the British and French can do in terms of target control is not possible in Germany.” Berlin “must not become a war party and German soldiers must in no way and at no time be associated with the achievable goals,” he added.
Germany, the army against Scholz: The Chancellor denied the reasons for saying “no” to the delivery of the Taurus to Kiev
by our correspondent Tonia Mastrobuoni, February 28, 2024
Internal and external allegations
These words had already galvanized the opposition and part of its own majority. Both the FDP and the Greens had openly accused him of saying objectively “wrong” things. Doubts about the accuracy of his statements had even leaked out from the Bundeswehr. But now a real diplomatic crisis has broken out with the United Kingdom because Scholz has essentially admitted that London and Paris are directly maneuvering the missiles being fired in Ukraine. The comment from the chairwoman of Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, Alicia Kearns, was very harsh: the Chancellor's words were “wrong, irresponsible and a slap in the face to the allies”.
The United Kingdom has been sending Storm Shadows missiles to Ukraine since last year, and the German Chancellor's gaffe in the days when Vladimir Putin has again threatened to use nuclear weapons if NATO soldiers set foot in Ukraine has rankled understandably the British, who have been among the most stubborn supporters of Kiev since the Russian invasion began. Even a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense took action: “The use of the Storm Shadow and its goals are the responsibility of the Ukrainian armed forces,” he immediately emphasized. In short, they are not manipulated by London or by English soldiers. But for former Defense Secretary Ben Wallace there is only one lesson to be learned from this faux pas: Scholz is “the wrong man in the wrong place at the wrong time.”