Germany considers strengthening its missile defence

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also said that Germany is considering the possibility of acquiring a missile defence system to protect itself from a possible attack from Russia.

- It is certainly one of the issues we are discussing and we have reason to do so, he said in response to a question about whether Germany could acquire a missile defence system like Israel's Iron Dome, but did not specify what type of system Berlin is considering.

When asked whether Germany intends to acquire a longer-range missile defence system than the existing Patriot, Scholz replied: "We must be aware that we have a neighbour who is willing to use violence to achieve its goals."

According to him, regime change in Russia is not a goal of NATO, despite its invasion of Ukraine.

-  Regime change in Russia "is not a goal of NATO or the US president," the chancellor said for the German network ARD. "I had the opportunity to speak with him at length in the White House and we discussed these issues as well," he added.

Joe Biden said on Saturday in Warsaw that Russian President Vladimir Putin "cannot remain in power." The White House later stated that the US president did not call for "regime change." "Democracy, freedom and the rule of law have a future everywhere, but I bet that we as human beings deep down want to live in a democracy," Scholz explained, adding that it is up to people and nations to fight for that freedom. "We must guarantee that the integrity and sovereignty of states are not violated," he asserted.