Defense Minister Boris Pistorius told DW of the importance of de-escalation in the Middle East, especially following the killings of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders. He also said NATO members have to do more for security.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius spoke to DW on Wednesday about Germany’s evolving defense policy amid multiple global security crises during his trip to the US state of Hawaii.
Pistorius was there to oversee the German navy’s participation in the US-led naval Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) military exercise.
He stressed the need for de-escalation in the Middle East, especially following the killing of Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, on Wednesday in Tehran.
‘We don’t want further escalation in the Middle East’
Pistorius called for diplomatic efforts to prevent further conflict between Israel and its neighbors. The Israel-Hamas war that stemmed from the militant group’s October 7 attacks on southern Israel has since spread Israel and Gaza to the occupied West Bank, Lebanon, Yemen, Syria and Iran, to varying degrees.
The defense minister agreed with his counterpart, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, that “further escalation” could be averted.
