High-ranking ex-NATO employee criticizes: NATO has “no strategic plan” for Russia

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Before the 75th anniversary of NATO’s founding, former alliance member Stefanie Babst (60) criticized the alliance’s strategic and military shortcomings. More than two years after the start of Russia’s war of aggression, NATO “has no strategic plan,” Babst told the AFP news agency. “We need a debate on the fundamental relationship with Russia, which goes beyond our own deterrence and defense,” said the former senior member of NATO’s international staff.

The alliance should consider how it can “contain Russian expansionism in Europe in an impact-oriented way,” said Babst, who until 2020 held a senior position at NATO’s General Secretariat. The alliance has said it will support Ukraine “for as long as necessary.” But what that actually means is “not described in any way.”

Babst praises Macron’s comments

According to Babst, this is “mainly due to a lack of interest in Washington and Berlin”. At the beginning of the Russian invasion, US President Joe Biden (81) stated that NATO should not become a war party and should not send soldiers to Ukraine. “The Russian president has been mercilessly abusing these parameters for more than two years, because he knows that his troops will not encounter anyone other than those of Ukraine on the battlefield,” the German political scientist continued.

“The least we can do is keep Putin in the dark about our intentions and next steps,” she said. French President Emmanuel Macron (46) has now brought this ‘strategic ambiguity’ into play in the discussion about ground troops. Although the debate was significantly shortened, Macron’s statements were still “an important strategic signal,” Babst emphasized.

Europeans are unable to defend themselves

In this context, she criticized Germany for “avoiding escalation with Russia.” Berlin must “put an end to the de-escalation rhetoric,” the former NATO employee demanded. ‘Chancellor Olaf Scholz must also stop always portraying Germany as a model student. That doesn’t exactly go down well with the Allies.”

Given the US’s increasing Chinese orientation and the possible re-election of ex-president Donald Trump (77), the European pillar in the alliance urgently needs to be strengthened, Babst continued. “At the moment and in the medium term, Europeans are not able to defend themselves.” Germany also has “a whole catalog of things” to do. The political scientist called for “much more steam, much more energy” to enter the “turning point” declared by Scholz. (AFP)

Source: Blick