Germany is interested in Poland and our entire region primarily in one context: the expansion of the Eurozone, which would make it possible to consume the achievements of 30 years of transformation to build up the resources of a German Europe – writes Marek A. Cichocki in a column in Rzeczpospolita.
As it is unknown whether Russia is preparing another war with Ukraine – this time completely different than in 2014, an open interstate war – we are dealing again in Europe with such a moment in politics when the curtains fall, and everything is visible as it is. Only the most essential pieces of this image can be accommodated in a short text.
The military consultations held a few days ago between the US, Great Britain, Canada, Poland, and Lithuania on the Russian escalation of the conflict with Ukraine shows that when it comes to a real threat, only the Americans and their ad hoc allies remain. The only question is what roles in this system will each party play and the actual division of benefits and costs of involvement in the conflict. The no-show of Germany and France also deserves attention. Especially significant is the sudden silence of Berlin, which has been responsible for the entire situation in Eastern Europe since 2014. When juxtaposed with the increasing exaltation of German politicians over the Russian Sputnik V vaccine, the sale of the aluminum plant in Rheinfelden to the Russians, and the determination to complete the Nord Stream 2 construction, the image of Germany’s eastern policy becomes very clear.
For a long time, I have also been insisting and giving my opinion that Germany is interested in Poland and our whole region primarily in one context: the enlargement of the Eurozone, which would make it possible to use the achievements of 30 years of transformation to build up the resources of a German Europe. However, behind this “proposal,” there are no security guarantees, for which Germany has neither its own capabilities nor the political will. It is a proposal of unilateral exploitation.
The picture is completed by the state of the EU, which today is living the scandal of Ursula von der Leyen seated on a couch at the meeting at Erdogan’s house and is excited about the start of a conference on the future of Europe, which, as a typical technocratic enterprise, hides the lack of political leadership in the Union. All of these disturbing images of a grim picture should force us to reflect and act, no matter how much our attention is absorbed by the pandemic today. The pandemic will eventually subside, and the conditions of our political position will remain.
Marek A. Cichocki
The original article, in Polish, can be read here:
https://teologiapolityczna.pl/znaczace-milczenie-berlina-1
Marek Cichocki – philosopher, political scientist, an expert in Polish-German relations. Co-founder and editor of “Teologia Polityczna,” program director at the European Center in Natolin and editor-in-chief of the “Nowa Europa. Natolin Review.” Associate professor at Collegium Civitas (specializes in the history of ideas and political philosophy). Former social advisor to the President of the Republic of Poland. He publishes in numerous media. Together with Dariusz Karłowicz and Dariusz Gawin, he runs the program “Third Point of View” on TVP Kultura. Author of books, including: “North and South. Texts about Polish culture and history,” honored with the Józef Mackiewicz award.
https://teologiapolityczna.pl/znaczace-milczenie-berlina-1
