In the wake of the US attack on Iran, the defense policy spokesperson for the Union faction in the German Bundestag, Thomas Erndl, has defended the operation, citing the Iranian regime’s refusal to abandon its nuclear program and the direct connection to Germany’s own security interests.
Erndl, a member of the Christian Social Union, stated in an interview with the Mediengruppe Bayern that the US operation was a direct consequence of the Iranian regime’s refusal to engage in diplomatic efforts to abandon its nuclear program. He emphasized that the move was also in line with Germany’s own security interests.
The recent escalation in tensions between Iran and the US, following an Israeli attack on Iranian targets, had temporarily halted diplomatic talks on the nuclear program. However, a meeting of the foreign ministers of Iran, Germany, France and the UK in Geneva last Friday signaled a renewed effort to address the issue.
Erndl expressed confidence that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz would address the recent events in his government’s statement to the Bundestag on Tuesday. He did not anticipate a change in the government’s agenda for the NATO summit in The Hague, scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, where the main focus will remain on strengthening the defense capabilities of European NATO member states. Erndl used the current situation to stress the importance of national defense, citing Israel’s actions as a prime example of the need for self-strengthening in the pursuit of security.