Germany will strengthen its Armed Forces to make them “the backbone of deterrence and collective defense in Europe”, according to the German Defense Minister said this Thursday (9), while releasing new guidelines for the country’s Defense policy for the first time in more than a decade.
A 19-page document details the “Zeitenwende” – the new policy announced by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 – and how it affects the functioning of the Bundeswehr, the German Armed Forces.
As a first step towards restoring its military forces after decades of wear and tear following the Cold War, Germany last year created a special 100 billion euro fund to buy modern weapons and pledged to meet NATO’s goal of spending at least 2% of GDP in defense from 2024.
“With the Zeitenwende, Germany becomes an adult country in terms of security policy,” said Defense Minister Boris Pistorius when presenting the guidelines. These are the first changes since 2011, when Berlin suspended military conscription.
Pistorius called the document Berlin’s response to a new reality, as Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has brought war back to Europe and increased the threat level, thus fundamentally changing the role of Germany and of the Bundeswehr.
“As the most populous and economically strong country in the heart of Europe, Germany must be the backbone of deterrence and collective defense in Europe,” said the minister.
He further added that German forces needed to be refocused on their main mission – the reliable defense of Germany and its allies – and be “ready to wage war”.
Source: CNN Brasil
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
