EIR and the Italian YouTube channel “Spunti di riflessione” have interviewed Vice-Admiral (ret.) Kay-Achim Schönbach, former head of the German navy, and published the video in German and Italian.
In the interview, the admiral criticizes the new German security strategy, as “too focused on the Russian threat, rather than placing the Federal Republic of Germany and its population at the very center of the defense mission—in all directions.” Quoting the head of U.S. forces in Europe, he rejects the allegation that Russia plans to attack Poland and Germany, and calls it a mistake to criminalize Russian leaders and the Russian population. The admiral condemns the “Russian aggression against Ukraine,” but “the demonization—and this is very important—the demonization of the Russian president of the Russian Federation, and to some extent also of the Russian people by parts of the German media, is unwise and misguided, because at some point this war will be over, and then life must go on alongside a state on our eastern border. In my view, but according to the far more significant and authoritative view of the major intelligence agencies—and above all, that of the top U.S. military commander in Europe—Russia is neither willing nor capable of attacking NATO.”
Those who insist that Russia wants to invade Europe show an “abysmal intellectual level,” he said.
“Russia’s military buildup, which is being closely monitored, is perceived as a sign that it is preparing for a war in Europe. Our military buildup, which began at a much higher level—not just Germany’s, but Europe’s and NATO’s as well—the current rearmament—should, however, be understood by Russia as a peace-promoting measure.”
