Even party friends are now doubting Joe Biden. But Chancellor Scholz stands by him – fitness or not. It is not only Germans who have high expectations of the host of the NATO summit.
The NATO summit will be a real test for Joe Biden. The US President’s fitness is in question even in his own political camp with a view to a hoped-for re-election. Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), on the other hand, expressed support and trust in the 81-year-old Democrat. Before the anniversary meeting of the heads of state and government in Washington, Scholz brushed off fears that the host would be overwhelmed. “No, I have no such worries,” said the Chancellor before leaving.
Biden wanted to ceremoniously open the summit on the alliance’s 75th anniversary with outgoing NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg – his first appearance in the spotlight of the three-day meeting.
He knows from many conversations with Biden that he has prepared the summit well and precisely. “Many of the decisions that are now being made and prepared there were developed in close agreement between Germany and the USA,” said Scholz. “In that respect, it will also be a very successful summit.”
NATO is celebrating its 75th anniversary at the three-day meeting. The alliance, which has grown to 32 allies, is facing serious challenges. Above all, it needs guarantees for constant military support for Ukraine, even if Donald Trump, Biden’s Republican opponent, wins the presidential election in November.
Fitness of host Biden dominates headlines in the USA
Biden is fighting for his presidential candidacy. Burdened by the botched TV debate against Trump, the Democrat went on the offensive again before the summit and adopted a confrontational tone towards his party colleagues. Biden addressed the Democrats in Congress with a clear letter and, in an unusual move for him, called in a live broadcast on US breakfast television.
NATO wants to boost arms industry
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced a new agreement to strengthen the defense industry on Tuesday before its official launch. The aim is to invest more, expand production and improve transatlantic cooperation, he explained to representatives of defense companies in Washington.
The war in Ukraine has shown that the stocks of weapons and ammunition are too small and the production capacity too low, said Stoltenberg. There are also significant gaps in interoperability, i.e. the ability of armed forces to work together multinationally.
Scholz: Support Ukraine as long as necessary
Scholz assured Ukraine of long-term support against the Russian war of aggression. “And it is good that we have reinforced this again in recent days with a very clear message: We will support Ukraine for as long as it is necessary,” said Scholz, referring to arms deliveries and the joint initiative of the most important industrialized countries.
At their summit in Italy, the G7 countries agreed to use interest from frozen Russian state assets to finance a loan package worth around 50 billion US dollars (around 47 billion euros).
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Washington with high expectations. He hopes for a clearer accession perspective for his country and stronger military support in the war against Russia. In particular, Kiev expects new commitments regarding air defense systems.
Ukraine has been supported by the West for over two years in its efforts to fend off the Russian invasion.
Scholz does not understand anger over defense spending
Scholz’s traffic light government had drawn up a budget for 2025 before the summit. The budget for the Bundeswehr will increase by a good 1.2 billion euros instead of the 6.7 billion euros announced by Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD). Pistorius called this annoying on his way to Washington.
Scholz made it clear once again that he sees the budget compromise of the traffic light coalition leadership as a sufficient basis for financing. At the same time, he looked beyond the coalition’s term of office and reiterated the commitment to higher defense spending in the long term.
“The Bundeswehr can assume that Germany will always comply with a NATO quota of two percent in the coming years and therefore it can also put orders into effect throughout the 20s and early 30s that are important for the country’s security,” said Scholz. According to his ideas, the defense budget should rise to 80 billion euros from 2028 – when the so-called special fund for the Bundeswehr has been used up.
Newcomers and troublemakers at the summit
NATO member Hungary made headlines before the summit. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban visited Putin in Moscow – and was sharply criticized for this by the EU. In a letter to his counterparts, he gave insight into his view of the war of aggression against Ukraine. In the letter, which is available to the German Press Agency in Brussels, he sets out Putin’s view of the war against Ukraine.
For the first time since joining, Sweden is taking part in a NATO summit. Under the impression of Russia’s war of aggression that began on February 24, 2022, Sweden and Finland had abandoned their neutrality.
For NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg, it will be the last regular summit before his departure. He will hand over his office to former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on October 1st after ten years.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
