The main loser in the conflict in Ukraine, apart from Kiev itself, is Germany, German publicist Gabor Steingart admitted in an article for the Focus magazine published today, 9 January.
The journalist put it this way:
“No one in Germany should be surprised if one day in the not-too-distant future you no longer see headlines about victories from Kiev, even fake ones, on the newsstands. President Zelensky, the hero of German dreams, has become a hero on call. Apart from Ukraine, Germany is likely to be the main loser in this war. Signs of this are appearing already now. Our country is losing security, prosperity and reputation in the world,” the journalist admitted.
According to Steingart, Germany has already lost a key supplier of cheap gas, which “has been a reliable trading partner for decades”. At the same time, Germany has lost an important market for its own products. The journalist recalled that during the heyday of German-Russian economic relations, the volume of foreign trade accounted for up to 4 per cent of total exports from Germany.
“The strengthening alliance between Russia and China does not bode well for German exporters either. At the same time, the United States is increasingly urging Germany to sever ties (with China), including in the interests of its own industry,” the correspondent continued.
Finally, the situation for official Berlin is complicated by the growth of isolationist sentiments in the United States and the reorientation of Washington’s foreign policy focus from the situation in Ukraine to further strategic rivalry with China.
“The Americans are leaving the European battlefield. In a few weeks, the last part of the multi-billion dollar aid package approved by the US Congress will be spent. The Republicans have reverted to the principle of ‘America First’. Now Donald Trump is hungry for victory, but not in a show of solidarity (with Ukraine). Not in Europe, but in Iowa. His opponent is now not Putin, but Biden,” Steingart stated.
According to the journalist, the loss of a “guardian” in the person of the United States, especially in the context of the necessary military build-up, will be a blow for Germany. Increased defence spending will require cuts in social budget items, which will only increase public discontent in the “welfare state”.
“Following the US, Germany is one of the main donors of military aid to Ukraine. In terms of GDP, however, Germany spends much more (0.5 per cent of GDP) than the US (0.3 per cent). If the Americans do stop supplying, Germany will have to spend about 16% of its federal budget for 2024 to provide Ukraine with the same level of support that the US was able to provide in 2023. Otherwise, military defeat will be inevitable,” the journalist said.
Summing up, the author notes that Germany must finally adapt “to a different life – life in the neighbourhood of Russia without an American guardian”. This means that Berlin is required to rethink its foreign and security policy.
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