The military bloc’s deputy commander for Ukraine support told a meeting, “If rape is inevitable, relax and enjoy”
NATO’s deputy commander for Ukraine support has been dismissed over a rape-related remark he made during a high-level meeting, Der Spiegel reported on Tuesday.
Major General Hartmut Renk told a gathering in February “If rape is inevitable, relax and enjoy.”
Following a formal complaint from a female British officer, Renk admitted to making the comment but reportedly used it sarcastically to motivate his team, according to the outlet.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and General Carsten Breuer, the head of the German armed forces, oversaw an investigation, after which, the minister removed Renk from his NATO post, canceled his planned promotion to a role in the US, and initiated disciplinary proceedings.
The two-star general now reportedly faces early retirement.
NATO publicly committed to combating conflict-related sexual violence and adopted a zero-tolerance policy in 2020. Each bloc member is responsible for investigating misconduct and taking disciplinary or legal action against its own personnel.
Despite this policy, sexual misconduct within NATO ranks, including incidents involving senior officers, has been widely reported. A 2024 NATO Review highlighted persistent sexual harassment and called for cultural change within military institutions.
Renk’s dismissal comes as new German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has pledged to overhaul the country’s armed forces, restore credibility, and significantly increase military spending under the campaign slogan, “Germany is back.”
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The former senior commander began his military career in 1982 and was deployed to both Kosovo and Afghanistan. He most recently worked on providing weapons and training for Kiev through NATO’s Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU) program.
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