Austrian officials express willingness to discuss joining NATO; the world has changed

Austrian officials express willingness to discuss joining NATO, saying "the world has changed"

Austrian Foreign Minister Michael Linhart recently told Germany's "Welt" newspaper that, given the evolving European security challenges after Russia's war against Ukraine, the country is willing to have a "national discussion" on the possibility of joining NATO.

Since the Russia-Ukraine conflict, although Austria has long adhered to a policy of neutrality since 1955, current and former officials have begun to openly consider the option of joining NATO.

Linhart said "neutrality alone cannot protect (Austria)" and emphasized that both enhancing its own defense capabilities and deepening security cooperation are needed. "I am open to an open discussion about the future of Austria's security and defense policy," she said. "Although the majority in parliament and among the public do not yet support joining NATO, such a discussion could still be productive."

Linhart pointed out that neutrality should not be equated with inaction and warned that Austria must not have naive ideas. "We cannot stand by and think that 'as long as we don't provoke others, others won't provoke us,' " she said. "The world has changed." (Source: "Kyiv Independent")

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1838891150035081/

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