#German Foreign Minister | Annalena Baerbock

[xtruss]

Global Times: When The West Talks About China's Change, What Do They Fear?

— August 24, 2023

Out of touch with reality. Illustration: Liu Rui/Global Times

The world we live today is the world in which the West has been expanding for 500 years, but the Global South, represented by China, is on the rise.

However, the West's expansion and Global South's emergence are not going to integrate in a silky-smooth transition, especially for the West - it is entering this change with a deep affection and attachment to its 500 years of expansion.

On Tuesday, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock expressed her feelings in a virtual speech to the Lowy Institute, an Australia think tank: "Increasingly, China is a rival - when it comes to the very fundamentals of how we live together in this world.

"China has changed, and that's why our policy toward China also needs to change," she added.

If we look at the changes in US and Western policy toward China based on the so-called change of China, described by Baerbock, what we see is a China that is seemingly like the West of 500 years ago - full of drive for global exploration, expansion, and colonization, and unafraid to use military power as a precursor to unifying the wealth and faith of the world under the banner of Western civilization

However, China's "change" in Baerbock's description is filled with the Western imagination.

Over the past four decades of its reform and opening-up, China has followed a path of peaceful development. At the core of China's change is the modernization of a home to one-fifth of the world's population, fundamentally altering global development and our way of living together.

China's change is not a result of failing to respond to the abrupt changes in the tide of globalization. On the contrary, Chinese enterprises that have been or are on the verge of leading the world are all advancing in the market economy.

The West looks at China's change with fear, because they are not willing to fully give China the world status it deserves, including China's position in the global manufacturing and the global market.

One example is the West's treatment of electric vehicles produced in China.

In a recent interview with the Telegraph, a senior British government official said, "If it is manufactured in a country like China, how certain can you be that it won't be a vehicle for collecting intel and data?"

Jim Saker, president of the Institute of the Motor Industry, put it more sinisterly and told The Times that "the threat of connected electric vehicles flooding the country could be the most effective Trojan horse that the Chinese establishment has."

The backdrop to this concern is that China has become the world's largest producer of electric cars, with surging exports knocking on the doors of the US and Europe.

All products related to the internet and AI technology undoubtedly face information security concerns. But highlighting the ideological attributes of this issue, rather than addressing it realistically through legal provisions that are consistent with a market economy, is clearly contrary to the order emphasized by the West, and underscores the fact that this so-called order, which is used to bash China, is in fact self-serving, narrow-minded and conservative.

In the final analysis, it is evident the West can't accept the challenge posed by China's change, and still recognizes in its bones that China can only be inferior to the West as a follower, rather than a leader.

China is changing, the Global South is changing, and such changes are bound to touch Western interests. If the West pushes China to the hostile side because of their inability to accept such changes, in the end, China will not be the only one facing difficulties and challenges.

Whether the West is willing to share the order they have built over the past 500 years is directly related to the advancement or retreat of human development.

[higherentity]

[contemplatingoutlander]

When the Germans are worried that America is becoming an autocracy under Trump--people need to pay attention. After all, they've seen all this before.

Donald Trump’s return to the White House has Germany’s diplomatic corps bracing for what it sees as a deliberate dismantling of United States democratic norms.

A confidential memorandum written by Andreas Michaelis, Germany's ambassador to the U.S., warns of an agenda of “maximum disruption” that could redefine the American constitutional order.

The document, obtained by Reuters and addressed to German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, outlines stark concerns about the erosion of democratic norms under Trump’s second administration.

Michaelis describes Trump’s vision as one focused on the “maximum concentration of power with the president at the expense of Congress and the [U.S.] states.” According to the document, key democratic institutions, including the legislature, law enforcement and the media, risk an erosion of their independence and could be “misused as a political arm.” 

The memo also highlights the involvement of Big Tech companies, which Michaelis claims could be granted “co-governing power.” [...] The briefing memo underscores Trump’s reliance on the judiciary to advance his goals. Michaelis notes that the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decisions to expand presidential powers could enable Trump to bypass traditional checks and balances. [...] The document further raises concerns about Trump’s ability to exploit legal loopholes for political ends. These include potentially using the military domestically in cases of “insurrection” or “invasion,” an act that could test the boundaries of the 1878 Posse Comitatus Act, which generally bars military involvement in law enforcement. [...] Meanwhile, Musk is accused of manipulating algorithms and blocking accounts critical of his platform. The ambassador warns of a “redefinition of the First Amendment,” suggesting a troubling merger of political and technological influence.

[emphasis added]

[mysharona1987]

Thankfully we *totally* trust Germans on the issue of genocide and how murdering civilians and burning children alive is fine.

They have always been notoriously trustworthy on that particular issue.

[girlactionfigure]

Annalena Baerbock, the foreign minister of Germany in an important statement that should resonate in Europe and the US:

Self-defense is not only attacking terrorists, but destroying them.

This is why I made it clear that when the Hamas terrorists hide behind civilians and behind schools we get into very difficult issues, but we will not shy away.

That's why I told the UN clearly: even civilian sites may lose their protected status because terrorists exploit them.

This is Germany's position and this is what Israel's security means for us.

(Applauded in the German parliament).

##

Unfortunately, many in Western Europe do not share Baerbock's simple truth that should be self-evident.

[mariacallous]

Foreign ministers of the five biggest powers in Europe together with the incoming top EU diplomat and host Poland held talks in Warsaw on Tuesday to reaffirm their commitment to Ukraine in its defence against Russian aggression.

“We were in agreement that imposing on Ukraine peace recipes contrary to its interests or unacceptable socially would have a negative impact on the stability of the country,” Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said after the meeting of Weimar Triangle foreign ministers (Germany, France and Poland) plus Italy, Spain and the UK.

“Any scenarios for finishing the war and putting an end to Russian aggression must be worked out in close cooperation with the Ukrainian government,” Sikorski added.

The meeting was called to allay fears that Ukraine would be sidelined once the newly elected US president Donald Trump takes office in January. Trump has repeatedly talked about bringing peace “in 24 hours” by imposing a solution that would likely be heavily weighted towards Russia.

Jitters were also caused by the decision of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to discuss the war with Russian President Vladimir Putin on a one-on-one call last week, the first since the full-scale invasion began. That call has been criticised by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, among others.

Sikorski was joined in Warsaw by the foreign ministers of Germany (Annalena Baerbock), France (Jean-Noel Barrot), Italy (Antonio Tajani) as well as Kaja Kallas, the future EU high representative for foreign affairs. The foreign ministers of Spain and the UK took part in the talks remotely.

Explaining the reasons for organising the meeting, Sikorski said it was prompted by the weekend’s major attack on Ukraine, the largest since last year, as well as by the US presidential election.

The meeting in Warsaw also served as an attempt by Poland to preserve its key role in European policymaking on Ukraine after apparently being snubbed last month by Berlin when it held talks on Ukraine with the US, UK and France but not Poland. It was also an opportunity for Sikorski to score a few domestic points ahead of his party’s primary election later this week to choose its presidential candidate for next year.

German Foreign Minister Baerbock spoke about the importance of not “having any breaks in securing the peace in Europe” in the context of uncertainties connected to the election of Trump as the next president of the US. EU countries, she said, “must strengthen the European pillar of NATO” and “invest significantly more than 2 per cent of GDP in defence”.

She also warned against “self-fulfilling prophecies”, implying that it was too early to tell what a future US administration would do in relation to the war and US financial involvement in European defence.

All the foreign ministers were careful to highlight the importance of cooperation with the US for ensuring peace in Europe, regardless of who holds the reins of power in Washington. “It’s only by having strong transatlantic ties that we can counter the rising threats from Russia and other countries,” Sikorski said.

[allthegeopolitics]

Donald Trump’s return to the White House has Germany’s diplomatic corps bracing for what it sees as a deliberate dismantling of United States democratic norms.

A confidential memorandum written by Andreas Michaelis, Germany's ambassador to the U.S., warns of an agenda of “maximum disruption” that could redefine the American constitutional order.

The document, obtained by Reuters and addressed to German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, outlines stark concerns about the erosion of democratic norms under Trump’s second administration. [...]

However, the ambassador offers a glimmer of reassurance, stating that “even the biggest critics assume that [the Supreme Court] will prevent the worst from happening.” [...]

Continue Reading.

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

Germany returns 'stolen' dinosaur fossil to Brazil

A fossil from a rare dinosaur that roamed South America 110 million years ago has been returned to Brazil from Germany, ending a diplomatic spat triggered by charges that researchers stole it.

The small dino, called Ubirajara jubatus, which had an early form of feathers and spearlike rods jutting from its shoulders, fascinated scientists, who identified it as previously unknown species in a paper published in 2020.

But it soon sparked a scientific and ethical scandal, when Brazilian researchers accused the German team behind the paper of illegally removing the fossil from Brazil.

After a nearly three-year standoff, a delegation led by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock returned the fossil Sunday during a visit to Brasilia, officials said.

Continue reading.

[ptseti]

GERMAN TROOPS TO EXIT NIGER, ANOTHER NEOCOLONIAL DOMINO DOWNGermany is likely to become the third Western country whose military forces will leave Niger.On 16 July, German Foreign Affairs minister Annalena Baerbock announced Germany is no longer able to continue military operations due to Niger’s partnership with Russia and Niger’s lack of trust in Germany. This came after Niger refused to allow immunity from prosecution for German troops.Niger also recently expelled troops of Germany’s fellow NATO allies, France and the US. France exited in December. Germany is set to evacuate by 31 August. The US is due to depart by 15 September. Italy is the only remaining Western entity occupying Niger.Germany pulled out of Mali in December 2023 for similar reasons.Nigerien civilians, like their Malian and Burkinabé neighbours, prefer their government not to partner with US and European countries to combat terrorism. Niger has instead strengthened its relationship with Russia and Iran.It has also entered into the Alliance of Sahel States with Burkina Faso and Mali, a confederation with shared economic, foreign and security policies. All three alliance members ousted Western-backed leaders in recent years to the applause of most of their populations.

[the-garbanzo-annex-jr]

by Vijeta Uniyal 

The Israeli government has compiled names of at least a hundred Gaza terrorists who are employees of the United Nations Palestinian Aid Agency (UNRWA), the German newspaper BILD reports exclusively.

In a letter addressed to UNRWA head General Philippe Lazzarini, Israel’s foreign ministry released the details of 108 UNRWA employees who are members of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror groups, the German daily reported.

By hiring Palestinian terrorists, the UN agency was playing a nefarious role in the jihad warfare being waged against Israel, the ministry said. The letter reminded the UNRWA chief that “any involvement in a militarized group that promotes discrimination or violence, such as Hamas or Islamic Jihad, violates the principle of neutrality,” the Israeli TV channel i24NEWS reported, quoting the letter.

The names of the UN-hired terrorists have not yet been made public due to security reasons, the newspaper noted.

The corruption-ridden UN agency has a long history of colluding with Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist groups. Since October 7, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has exposed several UNRWA schools and offices doubling as Hamas command centres and weapons depots.

The BILD reported Thursday:

For a long time there have been serious allegations of terrorism against the United Nations’ so-called Palestinians “refugee agency,” the infamous UNRWA in Gaza, which is also funded with millions [of euros] by [Germany’s] Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (…).

[darkmaga-returns]

An incident has taken place between a German Army helicopter and a Russian ship.   Details are very sketchy at this hour, here is all I know:

The crew of the Russian ship shot "signal ammunition" believed to be a flare, at the German military helicopter, which was performing reconnaissance.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock briefly described the incident at the beginning of a NATO meeting in Brussels.  She did not give any details. The use of signal ammunition is only common in emergency situations.  Thus, the firing of such signal ammunition today, is unusual on its face.

It appears, at least initially, that the vessel involved was Russian, but NOT a military vessel.  It is described as a "tanker."  But western media coverage is now calling the vessel a "Russian warship."

Baerbock claimed that there are always ships in the Baltic Sea that are involved in circumventing sanctions for the Russian war against Ukraine.  Was this some type of justification for the presence of the helicopter?  That is unknown.

More if I get it.

[rwnnews]

Germany Pledges €200M in Winter Aid to Ukraine: Supporting Ukrainians Through the Harsh Winter.

Germany Pledges €200M in Winter Aid to Ukraine: Supporting Ukrainians Through the Harsh Winter. In a significant humanitarian gesture, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has announced an additional €200 million ($218 million) in winter aid for Ukraine. This aid is aimed at supporting Ukrainians during their third winter of war, as Russia continues to target critical energy infrastructure.…

[beardedmrbean]

Iranian state media reported on Monday that Jamshid Sharmahd had been executed after he was convicted last year.  

Sharmahd was sentenced to death in February 2023 following a conviction by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Court on charges linked to his involvement in a deadly 2008 attack on a mosque in Shiraz that killed 14 people.

However, the formal conviction in Iran was for the much more vague Iranian criminal offense of spreading "corruption on Earth," a catch-all phrase the Islamic regime uses for an array of purported crimes, often related to religious values.

Iranian media including the legal news site Mizan reported that the execution took place on Monday morning. 

Iran had also accused him of being in contact with "FBI and CIA officers" and of having "attempted to contact Israeli Mossad agents."

California resident likely seized in Dubai in 2020

Tehran had accused Sharmahd of being the "ringleader of the terrorist Tondar group, who directed armed and terrorist acts in Iran from America." The little-known Tondar group, the armed wing of the "Kingdom Assembly of Iran," is based in California and says it seeks to restore Iran's monarchy that was overthrown by the 1979 Islamic revolution.

Before his kidnapping, believed to have taken place in Dubai, and subsequent detention in Iran, the 69-year old Sharmahd had been residing in California.

His daughter, Gazelle, had spearheaded the fight calling for him to be spared execution.

Germany, the EU and others had also called for the death sentence to be lifted.

"I don't think words can change a terrorist regime," Gazelle Sharmahd told DW soon after her father's conviction in 2023. "This is a regime that kidnaps people like my Dad from outside of Iran, takes them over there. ... This terrorist regime will not respond to any kind of talks or diplomacy. We have seen this, unfortunately."

Amensty International lamented 'grossly unfair' trial

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock last year called Sharmahd's setence "absolutely unacceptable," and also said he had not been given a fair trial. 

Rights NGO Amnesty International made similar complaints in reports on the case, calling the legal proceedings "grossly unfair." In a report on the original conviction last April

, Amnesty said Sharmahd was denied access to an independent lawyer of his own choosing and alleged that the state-appointed defense attorney's services were inadequate. 

"His government-appointed lawyer told his family on July 2, 2022, that there was 'no point' to him objecting against the Revolutionary Court admitting his forced 'confessions' as evidence," Amnesty wrote. "Prior to this, on May 9, 2021, the government-appointed lawyer said that without payment of US$250,000 from the family, he would not defend Jamshid Sharmahd in court and would only 'sit there'."

[workersolidarity]

🇮🇷⚔️🇮🇱 🚨

IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER TO GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER: PUNISHING ZIONIST REGIME A NECESSITY, GALLANT THREATENS FURTHER RETALIATION, WAR LOOMS OVER REGION

Speaking with the German Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock, on Thursday, Iran's Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, told his German counterpart that the "legitimate defense with the aim of punishing the aggressor is a necessity," following the Israeli occupation's April 1st airstrike on the Consulate section of the Iranian embassy in Damascus, Syria, that killed 7 Iranian personnel, including two high-ranking Generals with the IRGC's elite Quds Force.

Iran has since vowed revenge on the Israeli regime, with Iranian Supreme leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei saying during an Eid al-Fitr sermon on Wednesday that the Israeli occupation "should and will be punished" for their "mistake," later adding that the Israelis would "regret the crime" and would soon be "punished at the hands of our brave men."

Meanwhile, United States President Joe Biden reaffirmed his commitment to the defense of the Zionist regime, saying during a news conference on Wednesday that "Our commitment to Israel’s security against these threats from Iran and its proxies is ironclad." (Biden also used the same phrase to reaffirm U.S. military support for the Philippines on Thursday, in the event of a territorial dispute with China in the South China Sea)

Meanwhile, United States Defense Secretary, Lloyd Austin, spoke by phone with Israeli Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant.

During their conversation, the US Defense Secretary used identical language in reaffirming, “ironclad US support for Israel’s defense in the face of growing threats from Iran and its regional proxies.”

“Secretary Austin assured Minister Gallant that Israel could count on full US support to defend Israel against Iranian attacks, which Tehran has publicly threatened,” the readout adds.

The Israeli Defense Minister, for his part, told his American counterpart that any "direct Iranian attack will require an appropriate Israeli response against Iran.

“The State of Israel will not tolerate an Iranian attack on its territory," Gallant added.

Meanwhile, two anonymous Biden administration officials told Politico that they expect Iran was "calibrating its plans for a major retaliatory strike against Israel to send a message — but not spark a regional war that compels Washington to respond."

The two officials told Politico that the Biden administration expects Iran is preparing for a "larger-than-usual" strike on the Israeli entity "in the coming days," adding that the assault is likely to consist of combined missile and drone strikes.

However, according to Politico:

Neither official said they were fully confident Iran will succeed in striking Israel in a way that doesn’t prompt the U.S. to respond militarily, as any attack increases the risk of a greater conflagration in the Middle East. But Iran doesn’t seek to expand the regional crisis further, the Biden administration has long determined, which the officials said may be weighing on Tehran’s planning.

The decisions and behaviors of the United States over the last six months has not been without consequences it would seem, as Joe Biden's refusal to set limits on the Israeli occupation has allowed the Zionist regime to turn Gaza into smoldering blood bath killing and wounding well over 100'000 Palestinians, while in the north, the occupation is on the verge of outbreak of war with Hezbollah, which has already resulted in hundreds of thousands of Israeli colonial settlers in the north of the occupied Palestinian territories to become displaced.

At the same time extremely rash and irrational actions such as the strike on the Iranian embassy, moves meant to spark a larger conflagration, have brought us to the edge of a regional war, looming over the Zionist regime while threatening to blow up in the Biden administration's faces during an election year, dragging the United States into massive war that it cannot win in the long-run.

Even while all this occurs in West Asia, the Biden administration continues its Neocon policies throughout the world, threatening multiple crises in places as far flung as the Philippines, Ukraine, and Haiti, yet the bombast and threats will seem to continue into either the administration is removed from power, or third world war is triggered.

After, what else would we call regional wars sparked in every region of the world?

April 12th, 2024.

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@WorkerSolidarityNews