On Sunday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that the country is discussing the purchase of missile defence systems to protect against potential Russian attacks and provide cover for neighbouring European states.
When questioned about whether Germany would buy the Iron Dome system from Israel, Scholz said, “This is certainly one of the issues we are discussing, and for good reason.” However, he refused to specify the type of defence system Berlin is considering.
Additionally, when asked whether the country aims to purchase a defence system with a longer range than the current Patriot batteries, Scholz said, “We need to be aware that we have a neighbour who is prepared to use violence to enforce their interests.” Currently, Germany only has 12 patriot anti-rocket units, which are incapable of providing comprehensive defensive capability.
#Germany opposes sending a #NATO peacekeeping contingent to #Ukraine, #German Chancellor Olaf #Scholz said. He also spoke out against the establishment of a no-fly zone there.
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) March 28, 2022
According to him, the main tool now to help Ukraine is #sanctions from the West against Russia. pic.twitter.com/r0dQW5jJFe
Earlier, national newspaper Bild am Sonntag reported that Scholz had spoken about a missile defence system for the whole of Germany with Chief of Defence Eberhard Zorn. The paper said the leaders specifically discussed the procurement of Israel’s “Arrow 3” system, a long-range missile deterrence system. The German government is also considering the American Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-ballistic missile shield.
The system would be based on Israel's Arrow 3 model and would be capable of intercepting long-range ballistic missiles. "We must prepare ourselves," said German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
— Dave Spenceley (@ytcitraining) March 28, 2022
https://t.co/rDW3kyGjoL
The newspaper reported that the Arrow 3 system, which costs more than $2 billion, could become operational from 2025 and could provide cover for Poland, Romania and the Baltic nations, since it has a robust radar system. However, the German and Israeli defence ministries have refused to comment on the news report.
However, Andreas Schwarz, a parliamentarian from Scholz’s Social Democratic Party (SPD), told a local newspaper that purchasing the Israeli missile defence system made sense. “We must protect ourselves better against the threat from Russia. For this, we need a Germany-wide missile defence shield quickly,” he said, adding, “The Israeli Arrow 3 system is a good solution.”
The Parliament’s Defence Committee Head, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, has said that Berlin will consider several options for a missile defence system.
The decision comes after Scholz’s landmark speech on February 27, just three days after the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. “With the invasion of Ukraine, we are in a new era,” Scholz said. During his speech, he announced an increase in defence spending to more than 2% and committed an additional $110 billion towards boosting defence capabilities. Scholz said Germany would purchase American fighter planes and create energy reserves to reduce its energy dependency on Russia.
With naming individual countries Scholz says that those demanding boycott of 🇷🇺oil, coal, gas haven‘t implemented one themselves. He rails against mathematical models of economists advocating in favor of boycott that have little to do with what‘s going on real world. #annewill pic.twitter.com/eSt88r5UxA
— Thorsten Benner (@thorstenbenner) March 27, 2022
Last week, Germany reached out to Gulf countries, including Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), to strike energy deals in order to diversify supplies after Scholz suspended the Russian Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. The $11 billion pipeline would have further increased Germany’s dependence on Russia for natural gas. Currently, Germany imports more than 50% of natural gas requirements and a quarter of its oil from Russia.
While Scholz supports the intensification of sanctions against Russia, he has railed against the total boycott of Russian coal, oil, and gas, saying that European countries are too dependent on Russian energy imports to consider such a drastic step. He has also pushed back against proposals to send a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) peacekeeping force to Ukraine as well as requests by Ukraine for a no-fly zone.