Large scale lunar&NEO programs and Hypothetica

>>>I would have thought that Germany, being a member of ESA (c.f.,
http://www.space.com/spacenews/launchindustry/ariane_vinci_talk_010612.html
), would have access to the Korou launch site. Am I mistaken?>>>

True enough. But this assumes that relations between Germany and France
are always going to remain tip-top. If there is a trade dispute and things
start to get ugly, is there anything actualy stopping the French from
saying that no German launch vehicle or equipment can set-foot on French
colonial soil? This is an unlikely I grant you. But still, the Germans
would be betting tens of billions of dollars on the hospitality of the
French. That is something that i personally, would not feel comfortable
with. Maybe I'm just paranoid...
Tony