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Scholz ducks question on Leopard 2 tanks, warns of threat of Russia-NATO war
We were hoping that Olaf Scholes would announce a decision to allow the delivery of Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, but it didn’t happen.
Instead, the German chancellor told delegates at Davos that the conflict should not escalate into a Russia-NATO war.
A representative asked…
Q: Why are you hesitating on the decision to allow Tiger 2 tanks to be shipped to Ukraine?
Germany has been among Ukraine’s biggest supporters as Scholes launched a lengthy defense of Berlin’s approach.
He points out that the United States has sent more military aid, but has a much larger defense budget.
At the beginning of the war, we decided to change our political strategies, said Scholes, and we began to support not only with humanitarian aid, but also with many weapons.
He said that we will continue our support as long as it is necessary.
Scholz said that the artillery and multiple rocket launchers coming from Germany to Ukraine are very effective in protecting Ukraine’s sovereignty.
Ukraine can count on our support, but it must prevent this from becoming a war between Russia and NATO, Scholes explains.
And with his “will” and Germany’s will, Ukraine can join the European Union as a free, independent, democratic country.
On the tank supply, Scholz was not drawn on whether Germany would send Leopard tanks to Ukraine. “We want to prevent this from becoming a war between Russia and NATO … we are strategically intertwined and we want to discuss with our partners, not only [act] by ourselves”
— Mehreen Khan (@MehreenKhn) January 18, 2023
… but no word from Scholz about Tiger tanks in return. Instead, he highlighted the list of German military aid so far, vowing to support Ukraine “as long as necessary”, while asserting that there would be no war “between Russia and NATO”. https://t.co/7SoVfFR3kx
— Dan Sabbagh (@dansabbagh) January 18, 2023
Note: Germany is under intense pressure to re-export the German-made Leopard 2 tanks used by 13 NATO countries, or to donate its own to help Ukraine.
On the questions…
Q: Iranian women are being killed on the streets by the Revolutionary Guards. Why doesn’t Germany classify the Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist group like other countries do?
Sholes says we must understand that the Iranian government is oppressing its people.
In response, he said sanctions had been lifted and Germany was taking decisions with the rest of Europe.
They also promised to look into the situation and take the necessary decisions.
Last year challenged us more than ever. Scholes He says.
And in the year It is predicted that in 2045, the successor will address the World Economic Forum and present Germany as one of the first climate-neutral countries.
We operate emission-free on roads and railways, and our buildings operate in a climate-neutral manner.
So if you are looking for a place where you can invest in a sustainable way – look at us, come to Europe and Germany, he concludes.
On immigration, Olaf Scholz Germany says it is interested in receiving workers.
It’s our message of welcome to Germany for those who want to wrap their arms around it, he said.
And on the US deflationary bill, Scholes said Europe is talking to its US friends about concerns that European companies could be hurt.
“We are looking at what can be done to improve investment in Europe,” he said.
The purchase of LNG (liquefied natural gas) on world markets should not mean shortages elsewhere, says German President Olaf Scholz.
It should be a substitute for Russian gas that no longer flows to Europe. That means more renewables, but more gas, Scholz says.
Otherwise, emerging marketers may switch to coal, which will be more harmful to the environment, he warned. [reminder, Germany is planning to destroy a village to expand a coal mine).
On energy, Scholz says Germany believes hydrogen can play a decisive role, the steel industry for example.
He cites projects using offshore wind in the North Sea to power plants creating green hydrogen.
For as long as quantities are small, and prices high, the state will bring prices down for the industry, says Scholz, saying Germany’s goal is an electrolysis boom.
One thing is certain, energy must remain affordable, in Germany, in Europe and worldwide, Scholz adds.
Scholz says Germany’s energy supply this winter is secure, having swiftly weaned itself off Russian gas.
#Scholz says #germany has provided “large quantity of arms in close consultation with our partners” for #Ukraine ; says it was a “profound turning point” in German foreign policy – big question: what about Leopard tanks?
— Suzanne Lynch (@suzannelynch1) January 18, 2023
Scholz: for war to end, Russia’s aggression must fail
Olaf Scholz, Federal Chancellor of Germany, has arrived on stage to give his special address to the World Economic Forum – the only G7 leader expected this year.
Scholz begins by telling delegates that a lot has changed in the last year.
At the start of 2022, many people were expecting a boom, before the Ukraine war began in February.
He reminds the audience of the fatal helicoptor crash, in which at least 15 people including Ukraine’s interior minister was killed.
We are with their families, Scholz says.
There is also a “sword of Damacles” hanging over the world, Scholz says, the danger of deglobalisation and decoupling within the global economy.
Russia has already failed completely in achieving its imperialist goals, he continues.
Ukraine is defending itself with impressive courage, with support from interntaional allies.
We will continue to support Ukraine for as long as necessary, Scholz insists.
In order for the war to end, Russia’s aggression must fail, he insists.
Gore backs Greta Thunberg over coal mine protest
Al Gore, former US vice president of the United States, has told Davos that he supports Greta Thunberg’s protest against a coal mine expansion in Germany.
He also called for international institions to be reformed to better address the climate emergency.
Gore told a panel here in Davos that the climate crisis was getting worse faster than world is tackling it, warning:
“We are not winning. The crisis is still getting worse faster than we are deploying these solutions.
Gore added that he agreed with efforts by Thunberg to prevent the expansion of a coal mine in Germany.
He reminded the audience that Thunberg had been detained, yesterday, during a protest against the demolition of a German village to make way for a coalmine.
Gore said he agreed with her about trying to stop the coal mine project, which Thunberg has called a “betrayal of present and future generations.”
Gore also said young activists look at the World Bank and say it’s run by a climate killer.
Everyone knows that the World Bank is failing miserably.
Last September, the head of the World Bank, Davis Malpass, was widely criticized for not agreeing that humans are “rapidly and dangerously warming the planet” by burning fossil fuels.
Gore says the COP climate change conference should be reformed, so decisions can be made by the majority instead of requiring a single vote.
This explained that oil and gas companies and petrostates will stop spoiling the process.
Al Gore highlights a major problem with allowing fossil fuel countries to hijack decisions under the pretext of consensus instead of voting at the climate COP.
This is also a big risk #Plastic procedure Negotiations and implementation stage.#wef23 pic.twitter.com/DcjMYKFBiI
– Andres del Castillo #PlasticMedical 🇺🇳 (@andresdelcas) January 18, 2023
Political will is a renewable resource, Gore pointed out.
He was asked to sum up the message in one word. Gore He replies:
To sleep early, to rise early. Work like hell and be organized.
Due to the role of “Mr Davos”, a conflict arose between the WEF staff
Larry Elliott.
The future of Klaus Schwab – Mr Davos for more than half a century – has been up in the air after World Economic Forum staff leveled strong criticism of his chairman and the lack of a succession strategy.
A group of current and former WEF staff who spoke to the Guardian said Schwab, 82, was a law unto himself and surrounded by “nobodies” who could run the organization he founded in the early 1970s.
“Claus has been at the helm of the WEF for 52 years. When he was born [in 1938] Not even 122 of the 195 states in the world today. He is never accountable to anyone inside or outside the organization,” the group said.
“We are a group of current and former employees of the WEF. We want to play our part in creating a debate about the role this organization plays in the world.
The group said it wished to remain anonymous.
“We are hesitant to move forward because Klaus is so connected and could make life very difficult for us even after we leave the WEF.”
Speculation about Schwab’s future grew this week after online publication Politico revealed that WEF’s strategic partners – the firms that bank on $390m (£315m) a year – are unhappy with the lack of a consistent strategy.
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