By Soheila Zarfam
German leaders sacrificing economy, foreign policy, and dignity for Washington and Israel
TEHRAN – Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD), led by a new generation of politicians lacking experience and wisdom in international affairs, has steered the country into turbulent waters in a matter of a few years.
Under Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his team, the German economy has gone from bad to worse, after the politician with well-known anti-Russian sentiments decided to sacrifice his country’s economic prosperity to help fight Washington’s proxy war in Ukraine.
Germany, once the envy of Europe, is teetering on the brink. Its economy is shrinking for the second consecutive year, consumer confidence is in freefall, skilled workers are fleeing in droves, and the aging nation is failing to attract young talent.
German economists and business owners believe the country’s industries are unlikely to recover from the energy price shock they experienced after sanctioning Russia's oil and getting the Nord Stream 2 blown up by the U.S. anytime soon. Volkswagen for instance, plans to close at least three factories in Germany, lay off tens of thousands of staff, and downsize remaining plants in the country. Smaller companies are having it far worse.
The rapid growth of Germany’s far-right also means that migrants are going to feel less and less welcomed. It seems, therefore, that a perfect storm of economic and demographic decline will be hitting Germany in the next years.
You’d think that under these circumstances, Berlin would be cautious about creating unnecessary tensions when it comes to its bilateral relations. But, with Scholz at the helm, and the ever-hawkish and unapologetically racist Baerbock by his side, a different path seems more likely.
Germany announced on Thursday that it will close the Iranian consulates in Frankfurt, Hamburg, and Munich. The move, confirmed by Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, is in direct response to the execution of convicted terrorist Jamshid Sharmahd. Baerbock added that her country’s diplomatic relations with Iran had reached “more than a low point.”
The top diplomat announced the closure of Iranian consulates over the execution of a terror ringleader responsible for the deaths and injury of over 200 civilians a few days after she said civilian sites in Gaza should “lose their protected status” so that Israel can continue to kill women and children without drawing global condemnation.
While Baerbock seems to have a personal penchant for supporting terrorism, her latest rash decision coupled with the closure of Islamic Center Hamburg (IZH) in summer speaks to how Germany’s oldest party is losing grip on power as well as reality under the leadership of fanatical and unwise figures.
"Baerbock's decision to close consulates is unprecedented in the world of diplomacy," stated Alireza Sheikhattar, Iran's former ambassador to Berlin, who served for nearly six years. "Consulates solely provide services to citizens and foster economic ties. They are not involved in politics. This reckless act is a direct consequence of Baerbock's lack of experience in diplomacy. She generally doesn't know what she's doing."
An estimated 250,000 Iranians reside in Germany, with significant communities in Frankfurt, Hamburg, and Munich. Baerbock's decision to shutter all Iranian consulates will force these Iranian-German citizens to embark on journeys to Berlin for even the simplest consular services. “This is just an inconvenience and unnecessary burden on a large community that contributes significantly to the German society. It has no practical impact whatsoever,” Sheikhattar added.
Apart from lacking experience, the current German leadership is deeply influenced by the Israeli lobby and has been brainwashed into an unquestioning acceptance of Israeli actions, according to the former ambassador. He recalls witnessing firsthand Scholz's unwavering support for Israeli actions, even the most egregious, during a meeting years ago when the current chancellor had just stepped down as the president of the European Parliament. "This generation of German politicians seems to believe Israel can do anything, even if it means the deaths of others," he lamented. This blind faith, he argues, forms the core of the German government's growing hostile and aggressive stance towards Iran.
“Germany has always tried to keep its relations decent and respectful with us because these relations that date back to several decades ago have been based on economic interests. It’s concerning that a group of irrational politicians are sacrificing everything to satisfy Zionists.”
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