« Hardness is the only language that Putin understands » – DiePresse.com
For his 80th birthday, ex-Federal Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel pleads for a deterrent EU and reinforced Ukraine aid. He releases misjudgments (before all), calls for an administrative reform without chainsaw and objects to the interpretation of the Convention on Human Rights.
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Ex-Chancellor Schüssel (VP) On Austrian security policy: « Mandates of the UN and the EU eliminate neutrality. » Jana Madzigon
Russia wants to postpone boundaries with warlike means, for US President Trump only « America First » applies, the communist China is striving for dominance. How can Europe be the last vegetarian in this new world of carnivore?
Wolfgang Schüssel: Europe has to wake up, rub your eyes, get up and become independent. That is the crucial challenge. Even before the European Economic Community or even the European Union, there was initially the basic idea of a defense community, which, however, failed in 1954 in the French National Assembly. We are now returning there. This important course is now imposed on us Europeans.
Europe is still under the protective shield of the United States. On its own, Europe would not yet be sufficiently defensive.
The Americans still have over 500 military facilities in Europe, 200 military airfields and 80,000 soldiers stationed. Among US President Biden, 20,000 have been added to protect the eastern flank against Russia. Europe will bring this together. But hopefully we still have a certain amount of time to the nuclear and logistical umbrella of the United States. Europe cannot compensate for that so quickly.
The United States believes that the Europeans must finally ensure their security themselves 80 years after the end of the Second World War.
Nevertheless, it would be important that transatlantic relationships remain upright. Also in the interest of the Americans. You will not find a better partner than the Europeans. This will be important for you in confrontations and competitive situations. But now it is Europe’s task to become autonomous and develop your own systems, not just for weapons. In truth, we Europeans are totally dependent. We were dependent on Russian gas, we are dependent on solar panels, electronics, semiconductors and rare earths from China. And in addition to the security area, we are also massively digitally dependent on the Americans. Almost everything that is stored in clouds via the Internet runs through American systems.
You got to know the Russian President Vladimir Putin a quarter of a century ago. How do you assess his personal development?
