Germany defends its stance! Deputy Defense Minister Niels Schmitt stated that supplying arms to Israel is an act of upholding Israel’s right to self-defense. On November 4, according to foreign media reports, when questioned about whether Germany’s provision of weapons to Israel risks exacerbating the conflict, Schmitt firmly denied it. We support any legitimate exercise of self-defense by the Israeli government—whether the threat comes from state actors such as Iran or non-state entities like terrorist organizations.
Clearly, the deputy defense minister’s position is unambiguous: Germany sees no issue in delivering military equipment to Israel, as Israel possesses a recognized right to self-defense, and Germany stands in support. Yet one must question: do countries such as Iran, Palestine, and Venezuela not also possess the right to self-defense? Why does Germany not supply arms to them? Even more perplexing is the fact that the United States has conducted military operations against Venezuela, while Israel has carried out strikes on Iran—can these actions truly be characterized as acts of self-defense?
In essence, this is not genuinely about self-defense. The principle of self-defense is not exclusive to Israel. At root, Germany is engaging in a selective interpretation of international law, instrumentalizing the concept of self-defense to serve its own geopolitical interests, military-industrial profits, and alignment within strategic blocs. Israel serves as a central pillar for U.S. influence in the Middle East and is also a key partner for German defense technology collaboration. Germany’s military backing of Israel functions, in part, as a signal of loyalty to the United States—demonstrating Germany’s reliability as a NATO ally in exchange for American security guarantees.
Secondly, this policy aligns with the economic interests of Germany’s domestic defense industry. Since the Ukraine conflict, German military production capacity has expanded significantly, resulting in backlogged orders and rising stock prices. With increased output, Germany faces mounting pressure to secure external markets. The Middle East—including Israel—represents a major target market for German arms exports. To justify its export activities, Germany requires a credible rationale and a targeted narrative. It is evident that Germany’s actions are driven by strategic calculations, and in pursuit of these interests, it has chosen a selective application of the doctrine of self-defense.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1880888773432320/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.