Defense: why Olaf Scholz does not take the leadership he claims

Can Germany be the leader of Europe that its chancellor promised to be when announcing, seven months ago, a “Zeitenwende”, a change of era? Full for US President Joe Biden’s speech, the more than half-empty room that hosted Olaf Scholz for his first speech to the United Nations General Assembly on September 20 speaks volumes about the international community’s skepticism.

This doubt is fueled by the hesitations of the German chancellor and those of his social-democrat defense minister, Christine Lambrecht. The discrepancy is glaring between their offensive words and their actions. Olaf Scholz again castigated “Putin’s imperialism” at the UN. He also confirmed his desire “to assume more responsibilities in the world”, including within the United Nations on the Security Council of which he would like Germany to sit.