German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has once again dismissed concerns that the planned deployment of US long-range missiles in Germany could lead to an escalation of tensions with Russia.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the Chancellery in Berlin on July 12, Scholz emphasized that these weapons (US long-range missiles) have a deterrent and deterrent effect.
"This enhances security through deterrence… What we are always concerned about is the need to prevent war," the German Chancellor said.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin, July 12, 2024. Photo: Japan News
The leader of Europe's leading power reiterated that Germany would supply weapons to Ukraine in a way that avoids direct confrontation with Russia.
"We understand the decisions made within NATO: No decision, supply of weapons, or choice of weapons use will turn the war between Russia and Ukraine into a war between Russia and NATO," the German Chancellor said.
"But it is also clear that the decisions we make here are always aimed at ensuring the security of our country and the NATO alliance," Scholz pointed out.
"That means we are strong enough, we are making the effort and doing the right thing. This certainly includes air defense and deterrence capabilities," he concluded.
Earlier, Washington and Berlin said in a joint statement on July 10 that the US would begin deploying long-range fire capabilities in Germany by 2026, "with a significantly longer range than current ground-based firepower in Europe."
This is the first time such weapons have been placed in Germany since the end of the Cold War, according to the DPA news agency.
The German news agency also reported that the American weapons would include Tomahawk cruise missiles with a range of up to 2,500 km capable of striking deep into Russian territory, as well as SM-6 anti-aircraft missiles and newly developed hypersonic weapons.
After the announcement of the weapons deployment, German Chancellor Scholz, who was in Washington DC at the time attending the 75th NATO Summit, told reporters that it was "something that serves as a deterrent and guarantees peace , and that it was a necessary and important decision at the right time."
Russian officials reacted strongly to this information. Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov pointed out that such plans increase the likelihood of a missile race and could lead to uncontrollable escalation.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov spoke about the "link in the escalating process" of NATO and the US against Russia.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that his country and NATO are on the path to a Cold War-style "direct confrontation."
"All the attributes of the Cold War, with its direct confrontation, are returning," Peskov told a Russian state television reporter on July 11.
Minh Duc (Based on TASS, Yahoo!News, Al Jazeera)
Source: https://www.nguoiduatin.vn/thu-tuong-duc-noi-trien-khai-ten-lua-my-khong-lam-gia-tang-cang-thang-voi-nga-204240713213232587.htm
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