Gauck: 'Drop the reluctance'
June 14, 2014
In an interview published on Saturday, President Joachim Gauck advocated a more active role abroad for the German military, the Bundeswehr.
"I have the feeling our country should maybe drop the reluctance that was in order in past decades in favor of a stronger sense of responsibility," Gauck told Deutschlandradio Kultur, after a trip to Norway (pictured above).
Germany's Nazi past means officials are hesitant to send troops abroad, with overseas deployments largely unpopular at home. Authorities have, however, advocated a more active diplomatic role over recent months.
Gauck, whose position is largely ceremonial and with a moral authority, said he understood the reluctance, but that Germany was now a "solid and reliable democracy."
However a stronger overseas role, he said, did not imply dominance.
"I don't mean the behavior that Germany put on in past centuries or in the decade of war: a demeanor of German dominance. The opposite is what I mean," Gauck said.
"A 'yes' to an active participation in conflict resolution in a bigger framework, together with those who work with us in the European Union and in NATO."
Gauck, a former pastor from East Germany, said that in defending human rights and lives "it is sometimes necessary to take up arms," and not rule out a military response in advance as a "last resort."
Gauck's comments add to those he made in an interview with Deutsche Welle earlier this year.
Left slams Gauck's remarks
Gauck's remarks drew sharp criticism from Germany's opposition Left party.
Its foreign policy spokesman Jan van Aken said Gauck's view of the military was "one-sided" and "highly dangerous."
Germany must work for freedom and justice in the world through the use of non-military means, van Aken said, adding that the majority of Germany's population "for good reasons" rejected a Germany as "world policeman."
A report published on Wednesday showed that Germany was the world's third largest arms exporter after the United States and Russia from 2008 to 2012.
ipc, jr/jlw (Reuters, AP, dpa, epd)