Former parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich has expressed deep concern regarding the recent exchange of nuclear threats between United States President Donald Trump and Russia.
Speaking to “Der Spiegel”, Mützenich described the verbal sparring between Trump and former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev as “not only insensitive and reckless, but also irresponsible”. He referenced the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki 80 years ago, highlighting the devastating loss of life – exceeding 200,000 people – resulting from the U.S. military actions on August 6th and 9th, 1945.
The escalating tensions recently prompted Trump to order the deployment of two nuclear submarines closer to Russian territory, a reaction to earlier provocations exchanged via online platforms.
Mützenich, a seasoned foreign policy expert, cautioned against the rhetoric surrounding nuclear weapons, stating, “One does not play with nuclear weapons”. He further criticized the perceived lack of response from German politicians, arguing that a robust rebuttal from the German government should have been expected given the public and provocative nature of the remarks made by the current U.S. president, particularly given the shared military alliance.
Mützenich emphasized Germany’s commitment to nuclear participation and involvement in NATO’s nuclear planning, asserting that this participation necessitates a “right and obligation to act seriously and responsibly”. He urged for a clear and firm stance on the matter, stressing the importance of a measured and responsible approach to international security.
