Ministerpräsident Alexander Schweitzer (SPD) rejected calls to deny U.S. forces access to the Ramstein base on the basis of international law. He said he does not want Rhineland‑Palatinate dragged into the Iran conflict, but will work “in partnership with our Americans”. Schweitzer stressed that foreign policy must not be mixed with state politics, noting that U.S. sites have long existed in Germany-including in Rhineland‑Palatinate-and that they will continue to be used for international engagement, even in the context of Iran. He added that the state places great value on good partnership down to the municipal level, and anyone who wishes to blend foreign and domestic policy will find no support.
Schweitzer also made clear that Rhineland‑Palatinate does not wish to be pulled into the Iran war. The minister said the state will carefully consider whether to invest in military engagement if the White House keeps pressing that demand.
While Schweitzer spoke about staying out of the war, CDU top candidate Gordon Schnieder dismissed left‑leaning calls to shut down the U.S. military base in Ramstein. He warned that it would be disastrous for the state to lose the foreign troops stationed there. Schnieder pointed out that recent years have shown that international law has done little to halt Iranian terror. When Israel feels threatened and Iran speaks of erasing Israel from the map, Schnieder said he would allow Israel and the United States to act accordingly.
