Germany must ‘normalise’ relationship with military, says SPD co-leader

Lars Klingbeil says country should take leadership role as it relaxes pacifist stance following Ukraine war

Germany needs to normalise" its relationship with the military and learn to take a leadership role in Europe after almost 80 years of restraint", the co-leader of the governing Social Democratic Party (SPD) has said.

In a speech marking a further point in Berlin's slow pivot from a broadly pacifist foreign policy agenda since Russia's 24 February invasion of Ukraine, Lars Klingbeil said it was important to recognise military force as a legitimate political measure for a government striving for peace.