CDU General Czaja calls for a debate about Europe’s security architecture

In view of the escalating conflict with Russia over Ukraine, CDU General Secretary Mario Czaja is calling for a debate on Europe’s security architecture. “The fluctuating course of the federal government in the Ukraine crisis isolates Germany internationally,” Czaja told the Tagesspiegel. “Apparently the traffic light coalition does not want a debate about what the Federal Republican and European interests are.”

Germany needs a well-fortified European Union that can keep the promise of peace and security to its 450 million citizens. “The question of the European security architecture is all the more urgent since future US governments could actually reduce their protection for Europe,” said Czaja. “We need a clear commitment from at least the European NATO members to a real security alliance in Europe, including higher defense spending in Germany.”

The Christian Democrats also pleaded for a majority principle in questions of EU foreign and security policy. “In the case of the crisis with Russia, that would mean that the government in the Kremlin would be faced with an EU that was more capable of acting,” said Czaja. “Europe could then offer Russia a security partnership in a much more credible way.”

Czaja is a member of the Bundestag for Marzahn-Hellersdorf in Berlin and is known for good contacts in the German-Russian community. Leading Union politicians had called for an increase in NATO troops in Eastern Europe because of the Russian deployment in the border area, while CDU leader Friedrich Merz emphasized that he did not see Russia as an enemy: Russia is a European partner that he would like to see in a lasting peace order. However, Merz also said that the current conflict over Ukraine originated in Moscow, which could possibly necessitate sanctions.