In the coalition’s internal dispute over successors for the outdated tornado– Fighter jets are growing criticism of Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer (CDU). The SPD politician Wolfgang Hellmich, chairman of the defense committee, accuses her of not dealing openly with one of the most important armaments projects to the parliament and does not see the time for a purchase decision.
Hellmich said Eastern Herald Newspaper: “It was agreed with predecessor Ursula von der Leyen that the necessary data for a decision would be put on the table.” It is about the capabilities of the possible models and the cost of purchasing and maintaining the aircraft. “Nothing has been achieved so far. Nothing has been made transparent to us in any way,” said Hellmich. He makes it clear that no decision is pending so quickly: “In my view, there is currently nothing to be decided,” he said. “Nor do I assume that Parliament will make a decision in this legislature.”
Kramp-Karrenbauer had been pushing a procurement package for months, after which they Tornadoes the Air Force largely through others Eurofighter wants to replace from European production. There is talk of 93 machines. For some special tasks, the minister wants 45 in America F-18– Buying fighter jets from Boeing. Some of these machines are said to carry US nuclear bombs stationed in Germany in an emergency. It is about the concept of “nuclear participation”, to which Germany has committed itself and the Kramp-Karrenbauer also with the tornado-To implement successors again. The Eurofighter are not designed for this.
New trouble over an email to the US
The ministry wanted to present the procurement package on Thursday, but the SPD put it aside: SPD parliamentary group leader Rolf Mutzenich also feels overlooked. The Ministry says that the SPD is involved through government members such as Finance Minister Olaf Scholz. The minister would have expected them to inform the parliamentary group.
New anger is caused by the fact that Kramp-Karrenbauer, despite the dispute, confirmed to her counterpart in the United States in an email on Thursday that Berlin intends to F-18To buy jets. However, this was not an order, a spokesman clarified. Defense politician Tobias Lindner now accuses her of “catastrophic policy management”.
