Information from Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Do Rzeczy, Gazeta Wyborcza
The Bundestag elections, which took place in the end of 2013, and the new composition of the government may change German foreign policy positively, first of all toward Russia. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, a socialist politician, returned to the Cabinet of Ministers. He became the Foreign Minister of Germany; he previously held the position until 2009. He is an author of the concept of rapprochement with Russia through close economic ties. However, an opportunity of positive steps toward Russia in German foreign policy is nervously accepted in another European country – Poland. Considering that fact, it wasn’t an accident that Steinmeier undertook his first official foreign visit as the Foreign Minister to Poland.
The new head of German diplomacy is considered in Warsaw as a politician who feels sympathy for Russia, and it makes him “Poland’s enemy”, regarding famous anti-Russian attitudes in the Polish elite. Steinmeier was a right hand of German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, who is famous for his statement that Vladimir Putin “is a crystal-clear democrat.” “There are many of Russia’s friends in the political elite of Berlin, but Steinmeier is remarkable among them. He is a devoted friend of Russia, who is always ready to help, even when it contradicts Western interests,” the conservative Polish newspaper Do Rzeczy reported in early December. It is true that Steinmeier has always felt sympathy for Russia and been rather indifferent toward the USA – the closest foreign political ally of Warsaw. Steinmeier told the American ambassador about Germany’s nonparticipation in the operation against Saddam Hussein in Iraq in 2003; he also took part in development of a project on construction a pipeline in the Baltic Sea together with Russia. Steinmeier was against deployment of USA military bases in Europe without Russia’s agreement.
It seems Steinmeier’s visit to Poland was aimed at dispelling fears of Polish colleagues. And he managed to do it due to a strict rhetoric against Russia. The former foreign minister of Poland, Vladislav Bartoshevski, who is thought to be an architect of Polish policy toward Germany, suddenly stated that Steinmeier “learnt a lot” and in Merkel’s government “provided a balanced policy toward Russia.” Steinmeier achieved the change in his image by his statement about Ukraine. He expressed indignation about the fact that “Russia uses the economic crisis in the former Soviet republic, Ukraine, to prevent signing the association agreement with the EU.” From the point of view of Poland, the message by Steinmeier was “a breakthrough” as the head of the German Foreign Ministry decided to disprove his image of “Russia’s friend” from the very beginning.
Moreover, Steinmeier’s statement satisfied Poland, because unlike Berlin, Warsaw considers Ukraine a key geopolitical hub. The Polish political elite is sure that its country will be secured only if Ukraine is independent. the Polish President did his best to charm his Ukrainian counterpart Viktor Yanukovich and pull him to the Western side.
However, when Russia achieved a significant success in the fight for Ukraine in December due to its readiness to give huge credits and decrease of gas prices, Poland considers its fears reasonable. Steinmeier’s statement in Warsaw that Brussels offered too little to persuade Ukraine to sign the association agreement with the EU was thought to be criticism of the former German policy toward Ukraine. A major Polish newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza reported that “it is serious recognition of Poland’s policy toward Ukraine.”
Therefore, the new head of the German Foreign Ministry has a historic chance to dispel Polish prejudges about German Social Democrats. Poland traditionally believes that German Socialists naïvely watch the East, look at Russia and are ready to sacrifice interests of Central Europe in favor of Moscow.
