Overview
- Joachim Gauck used an interview on ARD’s Maischberger to call Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s continued refusal to send Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine a mistake.
- He argued that arming Ukraine constitutes collective self-defense for Europe and warned that Vladimir Putin counts on Western fear to blunt resolve.
- Gauck labeled President Donald Trump “unamerican” for undermining a rules-based order and said the transatlantic relationship is deeply split.
- He backed greater European defense spending with partners such as France and, despite his criticism on Taurus, described Merz’s Munich Security Conference speech as a wake-up call.
- He cautioned about domestic democratic risks ahead of multiple state elections and urged voters not to hand their fears to the AfD.