On Thursday, news broke that Germany is delivering armoured personnel carriers to Ukraine. This came as a response to France promising to deliver light battle tanks. The promised tanks have significantly higher firepower than those commonly used by the Ukrainian army and those already delivered by Western partners. In light of Ukrainian successes on the battlefield late last year, the Ukrainian army proved proficient even with inferior equipment. The new tanks have the potential to give the Ukrainians the tactical advantage and help them liberate more occupied areas of their country. Thus, we should be joyful that Germany delivers those newer weapon systems.

Hesitation means death

However, Ukraine has long requested those weapons and many people, including civilians, have died in the meantime. The fact that Germany, producer and exporter of some of the most modern weapon systems, waited for other countries to deliver weapons raises an uncomfortable question: What will Germany do, if there are no other countries doing the right thing?

As a leading European power, Germany has a responsibility to not only uphold its own interests but also to set an example for the rest of the free world. Unfortunately, Germany's foreign policy has often been criticised for following the lead of other countries rather than taking a proactive and courageous stance on global issues. This has become most apparent during the war in Ukraine, when Germany was at the forefront of sending kind words of encouragement, but very few tanks to the struggling country in the East. After decades of tranquillity under several Merkel governments, her style of politics is showing its horrible consequences and must be abolished if Germany wants to be taken seriously on a global stage.

Empty Promises

Germany’s approach is not only cowardly, but it also undermines its global aspirations as a leader. By consistently looking to others for guidance and direction, Germany is relinquishing its ability to shape the international landscape and influence the decisions of other nations. It is also failing to live up to its own values and ideals as a country that has a history of standing up for liberal democracy and human rights. In September, minister of defence Christina Lambrecht promised a “Zeitenwende” (change of times) and proclaimed a leadership role for Germany when it comes to European security. It seems that the German government has so far lacked the character and courage to make good on that promise.

It remains to be seen if the German electorate will hold the government to its words. While kind words might be enough for some voters, those who care about freedom and the right to self-determination should increase the pressure on the decision-makers, namely minister of defence Lambrecht, who has almost vanished from the public eye, and Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who seems to be the main source of hesitation in the German government.

Signs of Hope

There are, however, members of the reigning coalition, like the FDP’s Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, who have been openly supporting the delivery of even more powerful weapon systems, like Leopard 2 tanks, to Ukraine and demanded Germany to act according to their leadership aspirations. Let us hope that those voices will be heard more in the future and that Ukraine can count on Germany in its fight for freedom. This way us Germans don’t depend on other countries doing the right thing.