Foreign policy: SPD politicians are calling for diplomatic discussions with Russia

Prominent SPD politicians face the security and defense policy of the Black and red federal government and their own party leadership. In a “manifesto” that is available to the German Press Agency and which several media reported, they call for direct diplomatic discussions with Russia, among other things.

The fundamental paper is signed by ex-parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich, ex-party leader Norbert Walter-Borjans, foreign politician Ralf Stegner and several members of the Bundestag and state parliament. It is not clear whether all of the more than 100 signatures of SPD members come.

Warning of “military alarm rhetoric”

The document overwritten with “Manifest” could cause unrest in the SPD before the party congress at the end of the month. Then the SPD not only wants to re -elect its top, but also start the process for a new party program after the debacle in the Bundestag election. Shortly before, the NATO summit is pending, which will be a significant increase in defense spending.

The so-called SPD peace circles in their fundamental paper complain about “compulsion to do more and more armor and to prepare for an allegedly threatening war”. They warn: “Military alarm rhetoric and huge upgrade programs no longer create security for Germany and Europe, but lead to destabilization and to strengthen the mutual threat perception between NATO and Russia.”

Diplomatic contacts with Russia required

The signatories demand “to get back into conversation with Russia after the silence of the weapons, also about a peace and security order for Europe worn and respected by all”. A careful resumption of diplomatic contacts is already necessary before real confidence -building measures.

Peace circles also turn against the stationing of new American medium -range missiles in Germany and against increasing the defense budget to 3.5 or 5 percent of gross domestic product.