Emmanuel Thomas, DPA, Sunday, June 4, 2023
SINGAPORE – German Defence Minister, Boris Pistorius has called on the states in the Indo-Pacific to take a clear stance against attacks on the international security architecture, such as Russia’s war in Ukraine.
“This is incredibly dangerous for the world as a whole: If Russia wins, the message to revisionist powers around the world will be that aggression and the unprovoked use of military force are acceptable and can be successful. Also here in the Indo-Pacific,” Boris Pistorius (Social Demokrats) said at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.
The minister thanked the countries in the region that made it clear that the international community did not accept Moscow’s illegal war.
“For Germany, Putin’s war of aggression in the middle of Europe has become a historic turning point in our foreign and security policy,” Pistorius told representatives of more than 40 countries.
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“We commit ourselves to taking on more responsibility for our own security and the security of our allies and partners. This includes rethinking our arms export policy – in particular when it comes to supporting partner nations with their legitimate interest of self-defence.”
Pistorius called for “the rules-based international order” to be protected “no matter where it is challenged,” adding that this includes “the freedom of navigation and the respect of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.”
“Germany also stands ready to support all efforts to promote bilateral or multilateral confidence-building measures,” Pistorius said, mentioning the prenotification of exercises and mutual invitation to participate in them, mutual site visits and inspections of military installations or arms control agreements.
“We need the rule of law instead of the rule of force,” the German minister said.
The Shangri-La Dialogue, a conference organized by the International Institute for Strategic Studies at the level of defence ministers, is seen as the most significant security forum in the region.
