Former top diplomat Wolfgang Ischinger has warned that the current political crisis within the German government poses a serious threat to Europe. Speaking to the “Handelsblatt”, he cautioned that the debate surrounding the potential replacement of CDU leader Friedrich Merz holds “nothing good.”
Ischinger stated that Europe’s security is being jeopardized in a manner “we have not seen since the Cold War.” He emphasized that the Federal Republic plays an exceptionally vital role as a “stability factor for Europe,” stressing that “Germany must not falter,” according to the long-time head of the Munich Security Conference.
He fears that Europe’s deterrent strength against Russia is currently diminished. Moscow, he believes, may be looking for a window of vulnerability-a phase of weakness-which Russia could exploit, not just for disinformation campaigns, but also for military harassment and provocations. Ischinger therefore warned: “I believe the most dangerous autumn since Russia’s attack on Ukraine four and a half years ago is upon us.”
Ischinger views the cancellation of Chancellor Merz’s trip to the United Nations General Assembly in New York, due to internal political turmoil, as a misleading sign. He suggested it would be important for the Chancellor to travel to New York late this week or next, to demonstrate that Germany is not so crippled by domestic crises that it must withdraw from the international stage.
