A submarine, a frigate and a few tanks for Poland? An unusual proposal from a German diplomat

German diplomat Wolfgang Ischinger suggested that Germany could give Poland military equipment, strengthening the potential of the frontline country and its own security. The daily “Die Welt” writes about the rather restrained reactions of politicians and experts.

“Poland is a frontline state. The issue of reparations is still hanging over our heads, which from the Polish point of view is unresolved. What if Germany, in recognition of Poland's frontline role, presented it with a submarine, a frigate or several tanks? – Ischinger said in an interview published on Sunday on the website “Die Welt”. He added that in the countries neighboring Germany there is still fear of Berlin's excessive military power.

The reaction of politicians and security experts to this idea is rather restrained, the newspaper noted on Tuesday. “The proposal to gift weapons systems to a country that has been successfully building the strongest conventional army in NATO for several years sounds strange, if not downright paternalistic,” says Carlo Masala, a lecturer in international politics at the Bundeswehr University in Munich. He points out that Germany usually makes such gestures towards smaller countries from the Global South that do not have sufficient resources to strengthen their own armed forces.

FDP MEP Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann emphasizes that when building a common European army, European countries should pay attention neither to those who warn against alleged German domination, nor to the “forever yesterdays” who push the issue of reparations for reasons of internal politics.

SPD politician Adis Ahmetovic admits that Germany will bear special responsibility for Europe's security in the coming years, because Donald Trump's US questions the role of NATO. In his opinion, trust is not gained through “symbolic gestures like military gifts, but through solid and close cooperation.” Proven formats such as the Weimar Triangle should be consistently deepened and developed, he adds.

According to Agnieszka Brugger from the Green Party, Ischinger's “bizarre proposal” is “more irritating than helpful.” “It's about trust, cooperation, leadership and determination,” he emphasizes. “This is not achieved with money, words or military equipment, but with deeds and courage,” he says, adding that it is a mistake to involve the issue of reparations in this delicate matter.

Brugger emphasizes that she is also aware of her partners' fears of German domination in Europe. As he explains, however, it is not so much about the number of tanks, but rather about the fear that radical forces may gain greater influence in Germany, reminding their neighbors of “the darkest chapters of German history.”

CDU MP Roderich Kiesewetter assesses Ischinger's proposal positively, but considers it insufficient to overcome distrust. “We cannot redeem ourselves from the responsibility for the defense of Europe by donating a few tanks,” he says. In his opinion, Germany should rather consider deploying anti-missile systems in Poland and the Baltic countries.

“It would also make sense to integrate a German brigade or several battalions with the Polish army, following the example of German-Dutch cooperation,” says the CDU politician. Such “personal cooperation” would be proof that Germany is ready to put its military potential at the disposal of its partners in the Alliance. In his opinion, European partners are afraid not so much of Germany's military strength, but rather of Berlin's avoidance of responsibility and the Bundeswehr's lack of fighting capacity. “Poles and residents of the Baltic countries are asking whether the Germans really want to use and will use their potential, personnel and equipment if necessary. They are asking whether the Germans can be relied on if necessary,” says Kiesewetter.

“Die Welt” reminds that the idea of ​​​​transferring German weapons to Poland is not new, and the discussion on it took place already in 2024. “The idea was to meet Polish demands for compensation while strengthening the security of Poland and Germany against aggressive Russia,” the editorial team explains.

The transfer of military equipment from the Bundeswehr's resources to Poland on favorable terms was considered a “win-win” situation – beneficial to both parties. The project made it possible to solve the issue of compensation and at the same time strengthen the frontline state, which Poland became.

According to “Die Welt”, the offer was submitted to the Polish side during intergovernmental consultations in July 2024 by then-Chancellor Olaf Scholz. According to the newspaper, Germany was to hand over submarines to Poland. “Tusk definitely rejected the offer,” we read in Die Welt.

The editors note that no Polish government can accept the “arms for compensation” solution because it must take into account strong opposition from the opposition in parliament and public opinion, which would lead to the loss of votes. The idea is considered “dead” in Warsaw. The Polish government treats cooperation in the field of armaments and compensation as “two independent areas,” writes “Die Welt” in its conclusion. (PAP)

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