Germany and Russia, Friends Again
(Signs of the Time - August 2000)
Vladimir Putin, the Russian president paid a nostalgic return visit to Germany last month, having spent many happy years there as a Russian spy. After a cordial summit meeting with Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, he referred to his host in passing as the German "Fuehrer." Although the comment caused a slight embarrassment, it helped emphasize the developing respect that Russia has for the new Germany. While "fuehrer" is not often used in modern German politics because of its associations with Hitler, it is a term indicating great respect for the authority of one in high office. This month’s article will look at the developing relationship between these two nations and conclude that yet again Germany and Russia are working together in harmony towards common goals and initiatives.
June conference
In June, 2000, a conference between the new Russian leader and Schroeder was held in
Germany. Schroeder opened the discussions by hailing a start of "a new strategic
partnership between the two nations." In turn, Putin described Germany as "Russia’s
leading partner in Europe and the world." Although one might contend that
bilateral political discussions tend to be full of rhetorical and exaggerated discussion
between the parties, since the June conference, both countries have worked towards putting
these words into practice. Of particular note is the fact they have agreed to jointly
pursue plans for a missile early-warning system run from Moscow and a "regional"
anti-missile defense system covering Europe. Most significantly, Europe is defined as
covering territory from the Atlantic to the Urals, and from the Arctic to the southern
Mediterranean.
This is by no means the first attempt to try and organize a join partnership between these two nations. At the end of the cold war, the Kremlin under Mikhail Gorbachev stepped up its efforts to woo the Germans away from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization alliance with the United States and into a new strategic partnership with Moscow. Mr. Gorbachev called the relationship "Our common European Home." However, in a timely turn of events, the Soviet Union collapsed before it could join forces with Germany. Today, we have a renaissance of the program first envisioned by Mr. Gorbachev, a program that foresees the need for a strong relationship between these two nations.
Could this program be extrapolated to include the rest of Europe or is this proposal merely limited to Germany and Russia? The Toronto National Post reported, June 21, 2000: "With the Cold War over, the Soviet threat evaporated and Russia at least a nominally democratic country, Europeans suddenly are finding the idea of a ‘Common European Home’ a rather attractive prospect." One might argue that the European Economic Community and the common EU currency already meet the objective of a "Common European Home (CEH)." The European home as defined by both Gorbachev and Putin, however, includes an arms treaty, not merely a common market.
If the CEH is to succeed in the full sense of the proposal, it must first overcome some very significant hurdles, the least of which is obtaining NATO’s buy in. As one might expect, NATO would be reluctant to agree to a European arms treaty. Therefore in order to succeed, the CEH has to place all armaments on soil that belongs to a non-NATO member nation, such as Russia.
A new superpower?
The Post article indicated there is a push on by some Europeans to have the
European Union become an independent superpower. And the key link to this new superpower
is a Euro-Russian and more particularly a German-Russian partnership. For this partnership
to succeed, Chancellor Schroeder need not look far to observe a precedent. There are two
German traditions in foreign policy: the Western tradition of Helmut Kohl, who based
security on a U.S. alliance and the tradition of Willy Brandt, which sought rapprochement
with Russia to achieve German security.
The last time Russia and Germany decided to join forces was in 1922. These two nations signed that year what is referred to as the Rapallo treaty. Under the terms of this agreement, the Soviets agreed to help Germany secretly re-arm itself outside the limits of the Versailles treaty. In return, the Soviets would receive economic aid. Both Schroeder and Putin may be tempted to arrange a second Rapallo treaty. Under the terms of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Germany cannot bear arms that can be used for offensive purposes. However, they are permitted to bear arms that can be used for defensive purposes. Therefore, if any relationship between Germany and Russia were to succeed, Russia would become the bearer of the armaments, not Germany.
One need not look far to determine the current situation in Russia. Putin described the situation himself in the July 8, 2000, State of the Nation address. The New York Times reported July 9, that President Putin declared: "After ten years of independence, Russians have built only the carcass of a civic society and have yet to shoulder such basic obligations as obeying laws. A falling birthrate and aging population threaten to make Russia a senile nation." Now imagine this same senile nation with armaments capable of "protecting" the enlarged European area, which includes Mediterranean countries. With Russia and Germany pressing ahead for an early warning missile system one wonders if it will remain a system merely to protect the immediate vicinity or one that will be used in an offensive fashion.
Whatever the outcome of these new developments, let us pray that God’s Son may return to the earth shortly.
George Rayner
Additional notes from the Gospel Publicity League’s "Middle East Update" edited by Bro. Charles French:
"Russians are cowering in their apartments from the lawless society swirling beyond their front doors. They like the authoritarian regime which Putin seems to be promising" (Sydney Morning Herald).
"Russia has been holding talks with Yemen on mutual military co-operation, thus challenging USA power in the area. Yemen sits astride the waterways that carry much of the world’s oil. Also Russia is selling a top of the range anti-aircraft system to the United Arab Emirates which seems to be a message to Iran, which is trying to counter Russia’s expanding influence in the Caucuses" (Jerusalem Post).
"Subsequent to Russia becoming involved in the building of a nuclear plant in Iran, which will return billions of dollars, Russia has now lifted most restrictions on the sale of nuclear components to Iran" (ILN).