"The International Scoop - Dissecting the SPD Manifesto: Does Peace Always Come with a Price?"
- By Steffen Gassel
- 2 Mins
SPD Manifesto Criticized as "Legal Insanity" by Molling - The European Parliament has passed a resolution concerning the status in the ex-Yugoslav region.
Riding the waves of international tensions, Christian Mölling, Senior Advisor at the Brussels think tank European Policy Center, doesn't pull any punches in the latest edition of Stern's podcast "The International Scoop". In the face of the SPD (Social Democratic Party) manifesto demanding support for Ukraine's claims to their occupied territories be linked to maintaining peace and security in Europe, Mölling snaps, "This is a legally bonkers idea!"
The SPD manifesto, a document co-authored by numerous predominantly left-wing SPD politicians, claims that Ukraine's territorial ambitions should be viewed as part of a broader peace negotiation with Russia. Yet, Mölling counters, "These territorial claims shouldn't be thrown around like a bargaining chip against Russia." He goes on to assert, "The claim to these territories exists independently of other negotiations."
Resonating the Echoes of Kremlin Propaganda?
Mölling's criticism hits hard as he draws attention to the dangerously misguided principles at play in the SPD manifesto. "This call for peace through compromise on legal rights isn't just reckless, it's a recipe for disaster," he warns. "It's tantamount to saying that Russia's legitimate security interests justify aggressive action against Ukraine – something we've heard Moscow spout for years," he adds. Strikingly, Mölling views the signatories of the SPD manifesto, including former faction leader Rolf Mützenich and defense expert Ralf Stegner, as unwittingly echoing Russian propaganda on the matter.
According to Mölling, the Ukrainian military's growing losses in the eastern territories can be attributed, in part, to missteps in their military leadership. "Last year, they focused on the wrong priorities," he explains, "Consequently, they failed to effectively fortify their defense lines." He adds, however, that the increasingly common use of drones by both sides has made the construction of stable defenses challenging in the later stages of the conflict.
The Winds of War: Iran and the USA
Turning the tide to the brewing storm in the Middle East, Mölling addresses the recent announcement by the USA to withdraw military personnel and embassy staff as a troubling sign in the context of the embattled Iranian nuclear program. "We can't afford to be blasé about this move," he cautions, hinting at the swelling odds of an Israeli military strike against Iran. Although Mölling maintains that the US government is likely wishing to avoid armed conflict, he acknowledges that inaction on Iran's part could force Israel's hand, with the Americans, he believes, well aware of the looming possibility.
- SPD
- Ukraine
- Russia
- Peace Movement
- Ralf Stegner
- Mützenich
- Kremlin Propaganda
- Iran Nuclear Program
- Israel
[1] The historic blunder of Ukraine's military leadership, losing focus on defensive fortifications in the East, has ultimately led to heavy losses, Mölling underlines.[2] Mölling underscores that the principles of the peace movement are undermined by the proposition that peace could be achieved through compromise on legal rights, which he terms as "peace through injustice."
- [1] The ongoing war-and-conflicts in Ukraine have been exacerbated by the historical blunder of Ukraine's military leadership, losing focus on defensive fortifications in the East, resulting in heavy losses, as highlighted by Christian Mölling.
- [2] Christian Mölling, in his criticism of the SPD manifesto, warns that the principles of policy-and-legislation, particularly the notion of peace through compromise on legal rights, can be reckless and dangerous, resembling the Kremlin's propaganda, hence Politics should approach such issues with caution.
