The former German chancellor, who held the position for 16 years, also spoke about the gas deals she made with Russia when she was in power.
It was in April 2008, as part of the summit of NATO held in Bucharest, Romania, when the then German Chancellor, Angela Merkel declared itself opposed to the implementation of an action plan for the accession of Ukraine and Georgia to the Alliance.
She and other European colleagues, such as French President Nicolas Sarkozy, They argued at the time that this would contribute to an aggressive response from the Russia .
More than 15 years after the said summit, Merkel claims that if she had not blocked Ukraine’s entry into NATO in 2008, Russia’s war in that country would have started earlier. .
This was recently stated by the current former German Chancellor, who was in power between 2005 and 2021.
During the 16 years of his mandate, Merkel faced situations such as the 2008 financial crisis, the 2015 migration crisis and the 2014 Russian invasion of Ukraine. which had consequences such as the annexation of Crimea by Russia.
But although he enjoyed high approval ratings for most of his term, There are those who question certain decisions he has made while he was at the head of one of the most powerful powers in Europe.
In fact, the Ukrainian president, Volodimir Zelensky called Merkel’s decision on Ukraine’s NATO membership a ‘miscalculation’ the one who encouraged the Kremlin to start the war which broke out on February 24, 2022.
However, Merkel says she is convinced that having started the process of joining the Alliance in 2008 would have contributed to the war starting earlier and, probably, with greater consequences .
Why Angela Merkel defends the blockade of Ukraine’s entry into NATO
The former German chancellor, who has just published a memoir entitled Liberty: memoirs (1954-2021) he declared in an interview with BBC that, in this case, “we would have already witnessed a military conflict” .
“In my opinion, It was quite clear that President (Vladimir) Putin would not have stood idly by. watching Ukraine join NATO.
“And at the time, Ukraine, as a country, certainly would not have been as prepared as was the case in February 2022.
In the interview, Merkel also expressed concern over Putin’s threats to use nuclear weapons .
He stressed that “we must do everything possible to avoid its use”, because “the potential is terrifying” .
“Fortunately, China also talked about this some time ago. We must not allow ourselves to be paralyzed by fear, but we must also recognize that Russia is the largest nuclear power in the world. and with the United States, one of the two largest.
He assured that he was doing everything in his power. to ensure that the Kremlin does not opt for the armed route.
Merkel served as Chancellor of Germany until December 2021 .
Two months later, In February 2022, Russia began its full-scale invasion on Ukrainian territory.
What Angela Merkel said about Germany’s relations with Russia
During Merkel’s term, Germany has built two gas pipelines directly connected to Russia which made it easier for the country to obtain gas at lower prices.
However, Zelensky accused The Kremlin used this element as a geopolitical tool at your convenience.
In a conversation with the aforementioned media, the current former chancellor stated that They built the pipelines for two main reasons .
The first, as expected, concerned the German commercial and economic interests .
On the other hand, the second was linked to maintain peaceful relations with Russia Merkel said.
He stressed that he had tried to end Russian aggression against Ukraine by diplomacy and negotiations .
However, Merkel admitted her strategy had failed .
What Angela Merkel said about politics in Germany
With international sanctions imposed on the Kremlin after the start of the massive invasion of Ukraine, German industry has also been affected, as it must turn to other suppliers of liquefied natural gas whose prices are less economical. .
During his tenure as chancellor, Germany has become more dependent on China and the United States in trade .
One of the key moments of his management was when In 2015, he opened the country’s doors to more than a million asylum seekers. which triggered divided opinions.
While some leaders, such as US President Barack Obama, have approved the measure, others They suggested that this contributed to the strengthening of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. .
It is a political group which positions itself in the far right and shouts an anti-immigration message .
Currently, AfD appears in second position in polls facing the federal elections scheduled for February 2025.
But Merkel emphasized in the interview with the BBC that Their political decisions cannot be blamed for this boom or what is happening across Europe. .
According to the former chancellor, The only way to fight the far right is to stop illegal immigration .
What are Angela Merkel’s memoirs like?
In his memoirs, Liberty: memoirs (1954-2021) Merkel addresses from what his youth was like in communist East Germany to what his 16-year experience as chancellor was like .
He also tells examples he shared with different international leaders, such as Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump who was President of the United States between January 2017 and the same month of 2021, and won the elections in November of this year that will bring him back to the White House on January 20, 2025.
Along with this, refers to the prelude to the war in Ukraine and the NATO summit held in 2008 in Romania.
In one passage from the book he states that It would be “an illusion” to suppose that a status of action plan to join the Alliance “would have protected them from Putin’s aggression”. .
and questions what could have happened in this situation both internationally and in Germany.
Source: Latercera
I am David Jack and I have been working in the news industry for over 10 years. As an experienced journalist, I specialize in covering sports news with a focus on golf. My articles have been published by some of the most respected publications in the world including The New York Times and Sports Illustrated.
