Greece gets Marder armored vehicles from Germany and gives Ukraine Russian BMP 1s

In the wake of what was said in front of and behind the cameras during the visit of the German Minister of Foreign Affairs Analena Berbock to Athens, Istanbul and Ankara, an issue that may have fallen into the “second tier”, given the interest in the issue of the Greek sovereignty in the Aegean, is that of the so-called “circular exchange of weapons systems” (Ringtauch), which was announced months ago by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and which ran into obstacles and delays.

However, as can be seen from Ann Burbock’s trip, there is movement on this issue, with the deliveries of weapon systems from Greece to Ukraine and from Germany to Greece being “near the gates”.

According to the economic newspaper Handelsblatt, which cites German government circles, Greece is ready to send 100 Soviet BMP 1 tanks to Ukraine, provided that it first receives the German – that is, Western – Marder type armored vehicles.

The German Minister of Foreign Affairs confirmed the information about visits-inspections of the aforementioned equipment systems in Greece and Germany respectively and stated characteristically:

“I think we’re on the right track.”

The German newspaper recalls that Germany is in similar negotiations with Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Poland.

“Respect to Analena Burbok”

In the meantime, the political reactions in Germany about Burbock’s messages to Greece and Turkey continue.

The head of the critical Foreign Affairs Committee of the German parliament, Michael Roth, expressed his undivided support for Analena Burbock and the substantial departure from the policy of appeasement to tolerance towards Turkey.

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“The German Foreign Minister took a public critical stance towards Turkey. Respect!

“If Turkey continues to violate its commitments as a member of the Council of Europe, this will have consequences.

“We stand by our partner in the EU, Greece. Besides, who else’s?” states the Social Democrat politician emphatically.

At the same time, of course, there is no shortage of criticism for the “non-diplomatic diplomat” Berbock, as Munich’s Süddeutsche Zeitung calls her.

The Christian Democrats’ foreign policy spokesman, Johan Vandepoul, criticized Analena Burbock’s new foreign policy style, calling her style “clumsy” and saying her criticism of Turkey “doesn’t help anyone”.

As he said: In the long term we need both countries as partners – not only but mainly in NATO.”

“No beautification as long as there are no sanctions”

However, the Left Party is also criticizing, specifically the Kurdish MP Sevin Dagdelen, who stated that “there is no reason to beautify Analena Burbok’s policy towards Turkey, as long as it is not accompanied by consequences for Turkey” and while they continue “arms exports to Turkey as well as financial aid”

The reaction of the president of the Turkish communities in Germany, Gokey Sofuoglu, also has an interesting ending, who expressed concern about the abandonment of the diplomatic language, both by Turkey and by Germany, stressing that this deterioration in the climate between Turkey and Germany should not to influence Turks living in Germany.

SOURCE: dw.com

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