Baerbock calls out Germany’s indecision on Ukraine, warns of lost trust in Europe

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has openly criticized her government for its indecision regarding aid to Ukraine, marking a growing divide within Germany’s interim cabinet and escalating tensions among major political parties amid a heated election period.

“Germany as a whole isn’t currently seen as a driving force for peace policy in Europe, and honestly, that pains me,” Baerbock, a senior figure in the Green Party, expressed her disappointment in an interview with POLITICO, per Caliber.Az.

She further emphasized the failure of some politicians to prioritize Europe’s long-term security over short-term electoral gains. “Even now, during the election campaign, some prioritize a national perspective — how to gain a few votes — rather than taking real responsibility for securing Europe’s peace and freedom.”

Baerbock’s frustration comes amid a contentious debate sparked by Chancellor Olaf Scholz of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), who has called for any new Ukraine aid package to be tied to loosening the country’s fiscal restrictions. Scholz’s demand to fund a €3 billion aid package through new borrowing has intensified the debate, especially given opposition from right-wing parties like the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Free Democratic Party (FDP), who are hesitant about taking on more debt, despite supporting aid to Ukraine. As a result, the aid package faces a stalemate.

Baerbock has voiced concerns about the political deadlock, urging the government to act decisively to maintain Germany's trust among European allies. “That trust must not be damaged again by hesitation, which could make other countries worry that Germany won’t stand by them,” she stressed.

She also took aim at past German leadership, particularly criticizing the Christian Democratic Union under former Chancellor Angela Merkel, and the SPD, for their role in advancing the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. Baerbock argued that it was never just an economic project, as claimed by the CDU and SPD, and linked it to ongoing tensions with Russia. “Just as Nord Stream 2 was never purely an economic project, it’s also no coincidence that undersea data cables in the Baltic Sea keep getting damaged,” she said, referencing the suspected sabotage of undersea cables by Russia.

As Germany approaches its February 23 election, Baerbock’s Green Party sits at 14% support, trailing behind the conservative alliance led by Friedrich Merz. Despite the Greens’ current position in the polls, Baerbock pointed out that both her party and the Conservatives align on key foreign policy issues, such as Ukraine and defence spending. However, the future of coalition talks remains uncertain, as the conservatives are yet to announce which parties they would partner with in the event of a victory.

In addition to discussing foreign policy, Baerbock underscored the need for greater investment in Germany’s security, calling it “crucial” for the country to consistently spend more than 2% of its GDP on defence. “In crisis years, that could even approach three per cent,” she added, acknowledging the pressure from NATO and international allies for increased defence spending.

While former US President Donald Trump’s defence spending demands continue to loom, Baerbock expressed a pragmatic stance toward future US relations. “We’ll cooperate wherever possible because America remains one of our closest partners and has been a friend for decades,” she said. “But if things become more difficult in certain areas, Europe won’t be thrown off course.”

Baerbock also suggested that Europe could potentially benefit from Trump’s unpredictability, which has led some international actors to reassess their positions. “I just returned from a conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia,” she shared. “Topics like Greenland and the Panama Canal were central issues even among our Arab partners. You can sense how absurd these claims seem to so many, and it’s precisely this absurdity that’s pushing actors like Arab nations even closer to Europe.”

By Tamilla Hasanova