AfD leader questions Germany's NATO ties, claims Russia won the war
In an interview with "Die Welt," Tino Chrupalla, co-chairman of Alternative for Germany (AfD), questioned the value of Germany’s role in NATO and the European Union. He claimed that Russia has already won the war and that supplying Taurus missiles to Ukraine would drag Germany into military conflict.
In the interview published on Sunday, Chrupalla stated that NATO has ceased to be a defensive alliance and suggested that Germany should reassess its membership benefits.
A defense community must accept and respect the interests of all European countries — including Russia's interests. If NATO cannot ensure that, Germany must consider to what extent this alliance is still useful for us – said the politician.
Regarding the proposal for Germany's exit from the European Union in the AfD's proposed electoral program, Chrupalla described it as a "maximum demand." He emphasized that the party envisions replacing the EU with an "economic and interest community."
Before leaving, clear rules for the new organization must be agreed upon, he said, adding that the program is set to be approved at the party congress in January.
The politician also warned against providing Ukraine with Taurus cruise missiles, claiming that such an action would mean Germany's involvement in the war.
Whoever votes for Friedrich Merz votes for war – he stated, referring to Friedrich Merz, the CDU/CSU candidate for chancellor in the Bundestag elections scheduled for 2025.
Chrupalla argued that "the German government must finally get to the point of wanting to end the war" because "Russia has won this war". According to him, "reality has caught up with those who claim to want to enable Ukraine to win the war." Alice Weidel, the second co-chair of the AfD, is the chancellor candidate for this right-wing populist, pro-Russian party.
In pre-election polls, AfD garners support of around 17–20 percent, placing it second after the CDU/CSU bloc, which achieves 30–34 percent. In the European Parliament, AfD is part of the Identity and Democracy faction, while the Polish Confederation, represented by three MEPs, belongs to the European Conservatives and Reformists group.
