German Federal Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) is now demanding more money if the Bundeswehr wants to get even more involved. Arms exports, on the other hand, need to be treated even more restrictively, according to Welt.
Federal Defense Secretary Christine Lambrecht (SPD) has outlined the Bundeswehr’s capabilities in view of the increase in German troops on NATO’s east side.
“If there were other tasks, it would ‘reach my limits as Secretary of Defense,'” Lambrecht warned in a round of talks at the Munich Security Conference on Sunday.
The deployment of nearly 1,000 troops to Lithuania for NATO’s so-called Enhanced Forward Presence (EFP) has been rapid because capabilities are still available, the minister said.
The commitment should be “financially supported”, Lambrecht said in view of the forthcoming budget consultations in the federal government. Defense spending must increase in order for Germany to remain a “credible partner” in NATO. “We will keep our promises and we will also create the conditions for that,” he added.
He hopes to have the support of Chancellor Olaf Solz in the upcoming budget negotiations. Solz himself stressed his willingness to make more commitments on Saturday. “I listened carefully to the Chancellor.” It is certainly difficult to impose this because there are other challenges such as the coronavirus pandemic or the fight against climate change. With the new 3% target, spending on defense and development cooperation should be seen in the context of an overall approach.
At the same time, Lambrecht again defended the denial of German arms deliveries to Ukraine, speaking at the Munich Security Conference. In talks with the Allies, it became clear that there would be additional assistance to Ukraine. Germany is heavily involved in financial assistance and in stabilizing the Ukrainian economy.
Lambrecht said the guidelines for arms exports to Germany would become even stricter. “We have 80% approval in Germany for this restrictive policy,” he said.
In the face of the imminent threat of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, NATO is strengthening its eastern side and has sent more troops to the Baltic states, among others. Germany increased its troops in Lithuania from 550 soldiers to about 900. The battle group is reinforced by additional artillery, NBC defense, engineers, military police, logistics and medical personnel.
Source: Capital
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