German opposition proposes replacement for NATO
Germany's Left Party co-leader Jan van Aken has called for NATO to be replaced with a new security alliance involving both Russia and the United States, arguing that the US-led military bloc 'has no future.'In an interview with Die Zeit published on Saturday, van Aken said the party continues to support its 2011 national platform, which called for Germany to exit NATO and help create a new collective security system.'We never wanted to abolish NATO without replacement but rather replace it with a cooperative security system,' van Aken said when asked whether Germany and its European allies could defend themselves without US support. He proposed a new model similar to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), focusing on peacekeeping and joint defense.'Something like OECD 2.0. A peace and defense alliance, together with Russia and the US. But of course, if we were to rebuild it, it would certainly require another ten years of confidence-building measures. NATO would still exist that long, but it no longer has a future,' he stated.
Van Aken also called for the withdrawal of US troops stationed in Germany. 'Yes, and they should take their nuclear weapons with them,' he said, noting that nuclear stockpiles in France and the UK are already 'more than enough.'The politician confirmed that the vision of a demilitarized Europe remains central to the party's agenda. 'Of course I want to live in a country without an army. Don't you?' he said.Last month, Germany unveiled a new military aid package for Ukraine, including vehicles, air-defense rockets, and howitzers. Incoming Chancellor Friedrich Merz has indicated support for supplying Ukraine with Taurus cruise missiles capable of striking deep into Russian territory. The Social Democrats, who are holding coalition talks with Merz's Christian Democrats, have opposed the move as a needless escalation.Moscow has warned that delivering the missiles would make Germany directly involved in the conflict, arguing that Ukrainian forces cannot operate the Taurus without the help of German personnel.
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