He asserted that Germany was acting below its means

Head of “Munich Security”: Schulz did not make friends in the United States

• Schultz is facing a wave of criticism for his stance on the war in Ukraine.

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• Some German politicians oppose sending Leopard tanks to participate in the war in Ukraine.

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• Christoph Heusgen: Schulz pissed off the United States.

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The chairman of the Munich International Security Conference, Christoph Heusgen, has accused the German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, of angering the United States with his behavior in the controversy over the supply of combat tanks to Ukraine.

Heusgen stated that the US government was expecting Germany to take the lead in supplying Leopard battle tanks to Ukraine, but Scholz did not accept this.

Heusgen said in statements to the German newspapers "Rheinische Post" and "General Anzeiger" published yesterday: "It is certain that the chancellor did not make friends in Washington."

The German government intends to supply Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, and will also allow allies to do so.

Critics denounce this decision after much hesitation.

“The United States has delivered 10 times more weapons to Ukraine than Germany has delivered,” Heusgen said.

I do not know where we Europeans would be in support of Ukraine without the Americans, or where the Russians would be now, ”expressing his understanding of the American side’s dissatisfaction with the matter.

With regard to security policy, Heusgen stated that Europe must stand on its feet, and said: “Europe and Germany must do more for this, especially since the leading power in NATO - the United States - is moving more towards the region.” Indo-Pacific,” expecting that Europe will continue in the foreseeable future to rely on the United States of America as a protective power.

Heusgen stressed that Germany, as the most powerful economic country in Europe, must play a leading role, also in the military field, and he said: “But this is exactly what we do not see now.

Leadership cannot mean always being the last to do what is absolutely necessary, as in the case of battle tanks,” he said, adding that Germany was still acting below its potential and expectations.

For his part, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz criticized the controversy surrounding the delivery of fighter jets to Ukraine.

"It's strange that this debate is taking place," Schulz said at a press conference in Santiago de Chile on Sunday night.

Some people should ask themselves: Why are they asking this question, when it comes to helping the Ukrainians, ”stressing the need for a serious discussion and not “outbids (...), which may most likely stem from domestic political motives in the first place rather than support for Ukraine.”

Schultz emphasized that when it comes to an important issue such as arms deliveries, the matter must be managed and considered rationally.

Schulz indicated that shortly after the start of the Russian war in Ukraine, he and US President Joe Biden ruled out the establishment of no-fly zones, because that would have led to a conflict between Russia and NATO, adding that "some illogical requests from Russia" were also rejected. Like the deployment of ground forces in Ukraine, he said: “Everything has already been said about this, too, by me.”

The debate last year about a no-fly zone over Ukraine was that it could only be imposed if NATO provided its own fighter jets, and Schultz and Biden have rejected this.

However, the ongoing discussion revolves around making fighter jets available to Ukraine, which will then be flown by Ukrainian pilots.

Ukraine demanded fighter jets, and the United States did not rule out providing it with fighter jets in principle.

"I made it clear very early on that it was not about combat aircraft, and I repeat that here too," Scholz said a few days ago in the German parliament (Bundestag) about the controversy over the delivery of more weapons to Ukraine, adding that when the establishment of exclusion zones was discussed Shortly after the war began, he and Biden said, "We're not going to do that." He added, "Nothing has changed in this situation, and nothing will change either."

 Germany, as the most powerful economic country in Europe, must also play a leading role in the military field.

Schultz: When it comes to an important issue such as arms deliveries, you have to manage and think about it rationally.

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