European Defense Against Aerial Threats Urged by German Politician
In the wake of escalating tensions in the Middle East, Jens Spahn, the leader of the Christian Democratic Union’s parliamentary group, has called for a more robust air defense system for Europe, modeled after Israel’s Iron Dome. Spahn emphasized the need for the German government to take a proactive approach in developing such a system, stating that “we have a duty of care for our population.”
The CDU politician specifically advocated for the advancement of the Iron Dome project as a European pillar of the transatlantic alliance, citing the need for the continent to be able to defend against incoming rockets, drones and other aerial threats, including those in space.
Israel’s Iron Dome system is designed to protect against short-range rockets and the term is often used more broadly to describe a comprehensive air defense system. Germany has already launched the European initiative Essi, aimed at closing existing protection gaps, in 2022.
Spahn also defended the comments made by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who stated that Israel is doing the “dirty work” by attacking Iran. Spahn described Merz’s words as a candid expression of the situation and in a related context, used the term “liberation strike” to describe Israel’s response to the terror of Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran. However, he also acknowledged that such actions are often accompanied by a great deal of suffering for the innocent.