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Left-Wing Socialists Propose Shift in International and National Defense Strategies

Left-aligned SPD faction pushes for revised security and foreign policy, advocating closeness with Russia, immediately prior to the party congress.

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Prior to the party gathering, SPD left-leaning members advocated for a revised security and foreign...
Prior to the party gathering, SPD left-leaning members advocated for a revised security and foreign policy with a closer alignment to Russia, focusing on these areas.

Left-Wing Socialists Propose Shift in International and National Defense Strategies

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Berlin — Just ahead of the party conference, a bold gang of SPD left-wingers are stirring things up by demanding a fresh approach to security and foreign policy, including courting Russia.

"It's time for a step-by-step, steady reconnection and partnership with Russia…," their manifesto, published Wednesday, reads. They aim to end the carnage and chaos in Ukraine as quickly as possible, and they oppose the stationing of US intermediate-range missiles. They also argue that Europe needs to have a defense plan, but forking over five percent of its GDP on defense spending is unnecessary. The statement has caused a stir, not just within the SPD ranks but among the coalition partner, the Union.

Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) believes the agreed-upon stationing of US intermediate-range missiles in 2026 will continue as planned. Deputy faction leader, Siemtje Möller, criticized the call for dialogue with Russia, stating, "This is solely Russia's responsibility as the aggressor to cease the violence in Ukraine." However, Juso chairman Philipp Türmer offered support for the signatories, who include prominent figures such as former parliamentary leader Rolf Mützenich, former party chairman Norbert Walter-Borjans, and foreign policy expert Ralf Stegner.

SPD's peace party heritage has led these members to claim that diplomacy hasn't been given its fair share, but Germany seems to be heading down a different path. They argue that "forces have mainly sought the future in a military confrontational strategy and hundreds of billions of euros for rearmament." The manifesto blames both the West and Russia for damaging the European security order even before Russia's attack on Ukraine.

While some within the SPD may embrace a lively debate culture, Deputy Faction Leader Möller emphasizes that a new European security order can only be created once Russia stops its aggressive, imperialistic policy. The party will meet for its conference in Berlin at the end of June.

Politicians from the CDU/CSU remain tight-lipped about the SPD left's manifesto, but they aren't pleased about the timing, considering the recent agreements on foreign and security policy within the black-red coalition and the constant Russian assaults on Ukrainian civilians. Though the opposition AfD praises the SPD's stance. Markus Frohnmaier, an AfD foreign policy expert, argues that the SPD has finally reached the AfD's stance since the start of the Ukraine war, requiring a rejection of the hostile course with Russia and diplomatic peace efforts.

(Contributed by Markus Wacket, Andreas Rinke, and Sabine Ehrhardt. Questions? Write to [email protected])

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  1. The SPD left-wingers' manifesto, published amidst Germany-Russia tensions, calls for a reconnection and partnership with Russia, advocating for a new European security order that opposes the stationing of US intermediate-range missiles, and argues against excessive defense spending.
  2. Recent developments in war-and-conflicts, such as the dispute between Germany and Russia, have led to a renewed focus on policy-and-legislation, with politicians debating the strategic approach to foreign policy and defense spending in light of the SPD's peace party heritage.
  3. Crime-and-justice matters overlap with politics, as the SPD's assertive stance on dialogue with Russia has resulted in both critique and support from various political parties, with the opposition AfD praising the SPD's stance, while the CDU/CSU expresses concerns about the timing of the demand for diplomatic efforts amidst ongoing Russian aggression in Ukraine.

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