She said that in wartime it is important to go beyond equipping the army

German Foreign Minister: The essence of feminist foreign policy is to ensure that no one is left behind

Annalena Birbock.

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German Foreign Minister Annalina Birbock spoke about her foreign policy derived from her adoption of the feminist movement, and said in an interview with Der Spiegel magazine that her concern for women's rights does not conflict with her call to arm Ukraine.

Here are some excerpts from the interview:

■ How feasible is a feminist foreign policy in wartime?

■■ The essence of feminist foreign policy is to ensure that no one is left behind, and this applies not only to peacetime, in times of war it is important to go beyond equipping the army battalions, but rather to feel the suffering of civilians.

Children suffer from bombing differently from adults, elderly people cannot escape from war zones, and women are subjected to sexual violence.

■ It is well known that sending weapons to others is not usually part of the school of feminist politics.

Did you have trouble making this change?

■■ I reject this opinion, as feminist politics does not mean that we say to victims of violence: Do not defend yourselves, and this is similar to saying to women who are subjected to violence: Do not defend yourself, and do not seek help.

■ Your partner in the leadership of the Green Party, until the beginning of this year, Robert Habeck, demanded last May that Ukraine be provided with defensive weapons.

Was he right?

■■ The Green Party made it clear that Ukraine should be in a position of self-defense, but Germany at that time had a responsibility within the international community, relating to the Minsk negotiation process.

■ But you said at the time that your party refuses to send weapons to crisis areas?

■■ It is important to distinguish between the main position that refuses to supply crisis areas with weapons, and support for a country facing an existential threat.

■ Do you agree to spend 100 billion euros to strengthen the capabilities of the army?

■■ The $100 billion is only for our defense capabilities and alliance responsibilities, including the purchase of F-35s, helicopters, ammunition, and other advanced equipment to supply our military.

We also have to protect our country from the cyber war that hit many of our infrastructure facilities.

■ What do you think of the 200,000 Germans who signed a letter addressed to Chancellor Olaf Scholz, calling on him to stop the transfer of heavy weapons to Ukraine?

■■ Honestly, there are moments when I feel uncertain whether we are helping too much or too little.

I have not seen any German who absolutely opposes arms transfers to Ukraine.

At the same time, I always ask the opposite question, which is: Do you think it is possible to remain neutral, as we see people being killed on a daily basis?

I see that this position is irresponsible, politically and humanitarianly.

■ After Ukraine canceled the visit of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to Kyiv at the last minute, it seems that neither you nor the chancellor are interested in making the visit.

What has changed?

■■ These visits are not the goal in themselves. The goal is to provide assistance to Ukraine in the best possible way.

After the Busha crime, I discussed a visit with my Ukrainian counterpart, with the aim of supporting the activation of the International Criminal Court.

The cancellation of the President's visit affected my visit plan as well.

■ Are you concerned about the possibility that poor countries will adopt the claims of Russian President Vladimir Putin, that the sanctions imposed by the West on Russia are the reason that brought their country to this state of lack of food?

■■ Yes, because Russia was pursuing a policy of war propaganda, one of the elements of which is the discourse that sanctions do not target Russia at all, but other countries, and that is why I visited Mali and Niger, finally, to make it clear to them that we will not abandon them, but on the contrary, we will do everything What we can do to ensure that the Russian war does not cause a global food crisis affecting millions of people.

• I visited Mali and Niger, finally, to make it clear to them that we will not abandon them, and that we will do everything we can to ensure that the Russian war does not cause a global food crisis affecting millions of people.

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