[KlaraNovikoffaZ]

Well, something like using military for keeping world trade alive (a la the anti-piracy mission off Somalia) is economic interest as well, and as such not controversial here.

It just seemed that in this case he was particularly misinterpreted, and now I read there were also long-term issues between him and others in the German political elite. It looks like he was kinda fed up overall and took this option to get out. Not quite the reaction I expect from someone at his position, but fits to the current confusion in German politics...