NATO summit: Germany against gigantic challenges in defense!

NATO summit: Germany against gigantic challenges in defense!

The NATO summit is approaching in the Hague and the eyes are directed towards Germany. As Deutschland-vor-neuen-s- The increasing pressure on the Bundeswehr requires a significant increase in defense spending in order to meet the new requirements. This becomes clearer than ever if you consider the opinions of leading military, which are concerned about the current personnel and material readiness.

This is how the retired General Heinrich Fischer demands that Germany set up five to six additional artillery battalions. There are currently only five battalions, but the ambitious destinations by 2029 provide a total of eleven. Fischer also warns that the number of battalions required may have to be even higher if the new NATO capacity goals are taken into account. This shows how serious the current situation is.

challenges and staff shortage

In the major bike barracks in Weiden, where the armored artillery battalion 375 is native, it becomes clear how it is about the training and equipment of the occupied units. The training has been taking place there for over 100 days, but the battalion is not yet 100 percent occupied. Many soldiers and guns must be brought together from other units, which noticeably affects the operational readiness. Also The Bavarian Radio emphasizes that around 3,000 posts are currently being made available to the five existing artillery beams. A complete growth will take some time.

fischer emphasizes the need to set the course for the future. "We will not be able to achieve the necessary personnel goals without compulsory military service," the general is certain. The bureaucracy and the existing management structures also have to be simplified in order to set up the Bundeswehr more efficiently. The principle of "spacability before duel ability" is considered essential, especially considering the teachings from the Ukraine conflict.

Financial questions and international obligations

The situation becomes even more urgent if you consider NATO's expectations. As zdfheute.de , the member states must offer every river defense force in an emergency. Not only Germany, but also other member countries, are asked to increase their defense spending. 23 out of 32 NATO countries have already applied more than 2% of their GDP for defense and even strive for 3%. Germany not only has to fulfill its own obligations, but also show leadership in order to ensure the credibility of the alliance.

Ex-Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel meanwhile comes up with a clear appeal to the federal government: the expansion of the Bundeswehr should be financed by new debts. Germany is increasingly regarded as an engine for European defense initiatives, such as the new European Sky-Shield initiative. It is crucial that transatlantic relationships remain, regardless of possible political changes in the USA.

Time is pushing and the pressure on the Bundeswehr and politics increases. The NATO summit will show how the Federal Republic reacts to the new challenges and whether it can really exploit its potential as a leadership. The coming weeks will be decisive.