(de-news.net) – Recent proposals advocating a recalibration of Germany’s foreign and security policy, put forth by prominent figures within the Social Democratic Party (SPD), have prompted substantial criticism across the political spectrum. Members of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) voiced strong objections, with Dennis Radtke asserting that the SPD’s understanding of Russia was fundamentally deficient. He urged SPD leader Lars Klingbeil to provide greater clarity on the party’s internal viewpoints.
SPD representative Nils Schmid acknowledged Russia’s actions while expressing continued support for diplomatic peace initiatives. However, he criticized the SPD’s manifesto for failing to adequately account for evolving geopolitical threats, arguing that its perspective was historically constrained.
Anke Rehlinger, the Minister-President of Saarland, reiterated the SPD’s traditional foreign policy stance while simultaneously distancing herself from the manifesto. She acknowledged the internal diversity of opinion within the party, positing that such debates could facilitate a broader reconsideration of intra-party disputes.
The Green Party similarly opposed the proposed policy shift, contending that it neglected Russia’s ongoing engagement in hybrid warfare and its illegal military incursions into Europe. Franziska Brantner, the Green Party’s parliamentary group leader, rejected the manifesto, underscoring that Putin had persistently responded to legitimate peace overtures with acts of aggression. She maintained that an effective strategy for sustainable peace must integrate both enhanced defense capabilities and demonstrable solidarity with Eastern European allies. In conclusion, she cast doubt on which faction within the SPD was ultimately responsible for shaping governmental policy. Green Member of the Bundestag Marcel Emmerich, on his part, characterized the manifesto as both perilous and naïve.
Conversely, the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) welcomed the SPD’s initiative, asserting that it aligned with their longstanding advocacy for diplomatic engagement with Russia.
