Once a week, the American edition of the New York Times quizzes readers on the news of the past week. Last weekend it asked which head of government President Joe Biden had said he was “testing the US and NATO as hard as he can”. Among the answers were the names of the presidents of Iran, Russia, China and one very unexpected name: Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany
The placement of the Chancellor among the most powerful “enemies of democracy” in the world draws attention to the growing unease in the White House about Germany’s special role in the Ukraine crisis. Berlin’s indecisiveness on the sanctions issue, its refusal to deliver arms directly to Ukraine and the possible blocking of even indirect military assistance by Estonia are well perceived in the US capital.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken was recently a guest on NBC’s “Meet the Press”, arguably the most famous American TV political show on the liberal broadcaster Chuck Todd, who was quick to point out that the Western alliance is a problem.
“Germany is the stumbling block to a joint tough response to Putin”, – the journalist said.
The diplomat first hesitated for a bit before objecting to the host’s retort.
“This is not my assessment… Germany shares America’s concerns and its determination to give a strong response in the event of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, I have no doubt about that”, – Blinken said.
That is the official line. But it hardly hides the disagreement between Washington and Berlin over arms deliveries and sanctions. President Biden unwittingly made this public when he admitted at his press conference last week that the allies needed to discuss Russia’s “minor invasion” of Ukraine.
The fact that Chancellor Scholz declared the controversial Nord Stream 2 a “private business project” before Christmas was greeted with dismay by all parties who oppose the commissioning of the pipeline. And Germany’s rejection of military aid to Ukraine has also met with criticism from Democrats and Republicans alike.
Russia’s hardliner Paul Massaro of the Congressional Helsinki Commission for Human Rights expresses himself more sharply.
“Germany is always blamed for the war when they don’t want to do anything for other reasons. For them cheap petrol, car exports to China and Putin’s assurances are more important than overall democratic solidarity”, – said publicist Tom Rogan.
Last week’s visit to Ukraine by a group of Democratic and Republican US senators was not least about sanctions on Nord Stream. Moderate Republican Senator Rob Portman urged Germany to abandon the pipeline.
Former diplomat Steven Pifer, who was ambassador to Ukraine under former President Bill Clinton, said he had had some sympathy in the past for Germany’s position on Nord Stream 2, but if “Russia attacks Ukraine”, Berlin would have to bury the project.
Earlier it was reported that a rally was held in Berlin with the slogans “Friendship in the world – a successful Germany” and “Stop war and NATO”.