Constitutional Council: Majority Of German Citizens Reject US Missile Placement

UNSPLASH/SpaceX ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - The majority of German citizens did not approve the plan to place US long-range missiles in the country and may want to protest against the move, said Ralph Niemeyer, chairman of the German Constitutional Council and Sovereignty.

The Pentagon previously said starting in 2026, the US would begin to gradually deploy remote weapons in Germany as part of planning for the permanent deployment of these weapons in the future.

The long-range weapons include SM-6, Tomahawk, and hypersonic missiles under development.

"We are completely against this as an organization, but the majority of German citizens are also strongly against the deployment of any missile," said Niemeyer as quoted by ANTARA from Sputnik-OANA, Friday, July 26.

A survey published by Stern magazine on July 16 showed 47 percent of German citizens were concerned that US missile deployment would increase the risk of war between the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Russia, while only 17 percent said there would be no war.

Niemeyer said similar discussions about missile deployments took place in the early 1980s and suggested that this move could damage Chancellor Olaf Scholz's public image.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock told media over the weekend that it was too "naire" for Germany to say "no" to what she described as increased deterrence and additional weapons.