Scholz urges end to arms race

The German chancellor’s remarks come amid US plans to deploy long-range missiles in Germany

The world’s major powers should eventually return to discussions on arms control agreements, even if this is a “long way off,” German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has told ARD.

Washington announced plans last week to start deploying long-range weapons to Germany by 2026, including SM-6 and Tomahawk systems, “as part of planning for enduring stationing of these capabilities in the future.” 

In an interview on Wednesday, the chancellor responded to a question on whether he understands that ordinary Germans are “afraid of another Cold War.”

“Everything we do must lead to the moment, even if it now seems a long way off, when we once again have discussions about arms control between the world’s major powers and exit the arms race by agreeing with each other on arms reductions,” Scholz said.

Scholz added that Germany must be “strong enough that no one attacks us,” in an apparent reference to the US deployment plans.

Explaining the decision to host American missiles, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said last week that the deployment will allow Germany the opportunity to develop similar weapons of its own.

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The stationing of these weapons was once banned under the Cold War-era Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty, but Washington withdrew from the landmark agreement in 2019, accusing Russia of violating it, which Moscow has denied.

President Vladimir Putin said Russia continued to abide by the treaty for several years after America’s withdrawal. He warned in June that Russia’s defense industry might resume production of previously banned missile systems, citing the “hostile actions” of the US.

Moscow has already vowed to “calmly” prepare a military response to US plans to deploy long-range missiles in Europe. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov described Washington’s move as “one of the elements of intimidation” against Russia.

Russia’s ambassador to the US, Anatoly Antonov, also denounced the move, warning that it could pave the way for an escalation of already tense relations between Moscow and NATO. Antonov argued that the deployment would pose a threat to global security and could revive the arms race.