Striking remarks from political scientist Rahr: 'Europe cannot escape the US dictatorship'

Political scientist Alexander Rahr shared his assessments regarding Russia-Europe relations and Germany's foreign policy.

Responding to questions from Harici magazine Editor-in-Chief Tunç Akkoç, Rahr stated that the Ukraine war began as a result of 'missed opportunities.'

Rahr assessed that, from his perspective, opportunities to create a new peace and security order emerged after the collapse of the Soviet Union, but these opportunities were squandered. According to Rahr, working with Russia is necessary to ensure lasting peace and stability in Europe.

COULD PEACE HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED?

Underlining that Russia is not viewed as a great power by Germany and Western states, Rahr emphasized that the prevailing view in the West is that Russia is not taken seriously. He explained that NATO's failure to see any issue with expanding toward Russian borders, and the support for governments in Georgia and Ukraine that wished to form alliances with the West, eliminated the possibility of peace with the following words:

‘’More serious negotiations should have been held with the Russians. We should have taken Russia more seriously as a real great power. Furthermore, in my opinion, at that time, an initiative by Germany should have been taken to agree on a moratorium with the Americans and Europeans regarding no further NATO expansion. In that case, Ukraine and Georgia, all these countries, would not have been betrayed. It is nonsense.’’

DID ECONOMIC SANCTIONS WORK?

Touching upon the sanctions imposed on Russia with the start of the war in Ukraine, Rahr added that European companies have suffered more economically than Russia. According to Rahr, the continuation of sanctions is based on moral reasons. Addressing the ineffectiveness of economic sanctions, Rahr also emphasized that Germany's economic situation lacks the necessary strength to sustain the war.  

Rahr said, “We must stop seeing the German economy at the top; we must realize that we are no longer the center of the world.”

In the interview, Rahr also touched upon the relations between Europe and the US. Stating that Europe is a ‘won prize’ for the US, the political scientist used the expression,  “…I say this with regret, but Europe will in no way find a way to escape the grip, or even the dictatorship, of the US.”

WHO IS RAHR?

For 20 years, Alexander Rahr served as the director of the Russia-Eurasia Institute at the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP), which is considered one of Germany's most important think tanks and has close ties to the state. Rahr, who has carried out mediation duties between Russia and Germany, is a German political scientist of Russian descent.

News Source: 12punto