26 Feb 2022 09:42 am
The demand for higher armaments spending is currently booming. In addition to representatives of the traffic light coalition, CSU leader Söder is now also insisting on more money for the Bundeswehr and sticking to nuclear participation, referring to the military action in Ukraine.
With drastic words, Bavaria’s Prime Minister and CSU leader Markus Söder joined the ranks of politicians from various parties who have been demanding higher arms spending since the start of Russian military operations in Ukraine on Thursday.
“It’s war,” said Söder after a video switch of the CSU board in Munich.
It is not a regional conflict in Ukraine, ultimately the “security of all of us”, of all of Europe, NATO and Germany is affected. The Bundeswehr must now be reorganized, emphasized Söder. It is shameful when soldiers lack clothing or ammunition for their weapons.
“Something has to change fundamentally.”
The Bundeswehr needs more money so that it is able to take over the national defense and the defense of the alliance. The air defense must also be reorganized. This also includes sticking to what is known as nuclear sharing, such as equipping aircraft in Germany with nuclear weapons.
It is now important to increase intrinsic safety. To do this, NATO troops would have to be deployed in Eastern Europe. “As a sign that the alliance commitment is in place,” she quoted dpa soder Germany had just sent another 350 soldiers to Lithuania to reinforce the 1,200 soldiers stationed there.
The unjustifiable war of aggression in Ukraine also shows that, alongside the “hot war” there, the Cold War is back again. “Only the USA guarantees our security,” said Söder. It is therefore good that US troops in Europe have not been withdrawn – as was the case recently by former US President Donald Trump – but are now even being strengthened.
On February 24, Söder said during a visit to Vienna that Ukraine must now be “assisted” and that NATO should also be made secure. “In particular, we must also strengthen the entire eastern area of NATO,” said the CSU leader at a joint press conference with Austria’s Chancellor Karl Nehammer.
Diplomacy is always the first answer. In addition, however, limits must also be set from a position of strength – even if this could also lead to one’s own disadvantages. During this visit to Vienna, Söder brought up the reinforcement of the Bundeswehr:
“We must consider increasing European defense readiness overall.”
Economics Minister and Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck also believes that more money should be invested in defense as a consequence of Russia’s attack on Ukraine. Germany is now in the neighborhood of an aggressively warring country, said the Green politician on Thursday evening in the ZDF– Show “Markus Lanz”. This will certainly have the consequence that the operational capability of the Bundeswehr will have to be “reviewed – and I don’t think I’m going to reveal any secrets – increased”.
Former Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel (SPD) also said on Friday that the country’s own military capabilities must now be expanded:
“We can and must make the Bundeswehr better, and we must also make NATO better.”
Federal Minister of Finance Christian Lindner has also emphasized a greater need for the Bundeswehr. “We have to familiarize ourselves with the fact that our armed forces have been managed for many, many years to wear out,” said the FDP chairman on Thursday evening in the newspaper ARD– Show “Maischberger”. According to the financial planning of the old federal government, the funds for the Bundeswehr would have decreased in the coming years, according to Lindner.
“Declining defense spending no longer fits in with the times.”
For Lindner, it was clear even before the start of the Russian military operation in Ukraine “that the funds for the Bundeswehr would have to be increased.”
The defense budget has increased continuously over the years of the grand coalition and in the first Corona year, 2020, was just over 45 billion euros. In 2021 it was increased to around 46.9 billion euros. Despite the massive expenditure and the generous use of external consultants, the troops have been lacking operational ships, aircraft, tanks and probably also clothing for years.
On Friday, the military commissioner Eva Högl complained about the lack of jackets and underwear among the German soldiers in Lithuania. The Bundeswehr has been leading a NATO unit there at the Rukla military base since 2017 to deter Russia. The SPD politician said the Augsburg General on Friday:
“The soldiers have to fight their way through forest and field, they’re out there for a long time. I’ve had countless soldiers tell me that they don’t have enough protection against the cold and wet.”
For the years up to 2026, the department headed by Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht had already announced an additional need of over 27 billion euros before the Russian military operation.
more on the subject – Ukraine War Live Ticker – Fighting in Kiev
