British Foreign Minister David Cameron emphasizes the unity of NATO partners during his visit to Berlin

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British Foreign Minister in Berlin: David Cameron with his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock

Photo: Annegret Hilse / REUTERS

The German-British strategic dialogue is actually intended to deepen the foreign policy cooperation of both countries.

Recently, however, one could get the impression that the cooperation was not far off.

After Russia published a recording of a meeting between Air Force officers on the possible use of Taurus cruise missiles in Ukraine, critical tones and open contradiction towards the federal government also came from London.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz has reiterated several times that he rejects the Taurus delivery.

Now British Foreign Minister David Cameron visited his counterpart Annalena Baerbock (Greens) at the Strategic Dialogue - and tried to counteract the impression of division.

Cameron sees “incredible unity between allies”

Asked about the release of the recording, Cameron said he did not want to play into the hands of a Russian narrative about divisions between allies.

He sees “incredible unity between allies, incredible unity in NATO.”

Asked whether Britain wanted to persuade Germany to supply Taurus to Ukraine, Cameron said he could only speak about the British experience of how effective weapons of this kind were in helping Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.

Cameron referred to the previous history of arms deliveries to Ukraine: each time a new weapon system caused an escalation that did not occur.

"There should be nothing stopping us from helping as long as a NATO soldier doesn't kill a Russian soldier." Scholz rejects the Taurus delivery on the grounds that it could drag Germany into the war.

Baerbock did not want to rule out a Taurus delivery.

"You know that we as a federal government as a whole ask ourselves every day what else we can do to support Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression," she said.

However, she emphasizes that the term “long-range weapon systems” refers to a large number of weapons.

Taurus cruise missiles hit targets more than 500 kilometers away and therefore have a longer range than the “Storm Shadow” cruise missiles provided by London.

Taurus weapons are also more precise and more powerful;

They can destroy even heavily hardened targets deep underground.

Cameron and Baerbock are calling for more Gaza border crossings to be opened

Cameron and Baerbock also spoke about the war in the Middle East.

The Briton reiterated Baerbock's demand for additional border crossings to be opened into the Gaza Strip: "We need 500 trucks a day," said the conservative politician.

This includes opening more border crossings, turning away fewer goods and allowing more UN employees into the area.

"The Israeli government must finally open more border crossings for humanitarian deliveries and ensure that this aid arrives," demanded Baerbock of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government.

Germany is working with allies on an aid corridor for the suffering civilian population in the Gaza Strip by sea, Baerbock also said.

This is happening together with the EU and partners in the region, in particular with Cyprus and the United Arab Emirates.

At the same time, Jordan and the World Food Program are being supported in dropping aid supplies through Gaza.

Baerbock again demanded an agreement on an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.

She sharply criticized Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank.

The recent decision to expand settlements must be reversed.

At the same time, the Federal Foreign Minister warned that the Israeli hostages must finally be released.

The fact that Hamas refuses to release signs of life from the hostages shows that it is a terrorist organization.

ulz/czl/Reuters/AFP/dpa