Defense Minister Pistorius has come under fire for saying that the Bundeswehr must become “war-ready” again. In the Report from Berlin he explained what he meant by that – and called for a change in mentality.
Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius currently does not see Germany as “war-ready”. However, this applies to most armed forces in Europe, said the SPD politician Report from Berlin. Here, 30 years of peace dividends have also had an impact on awareness – the danger of an attack has been ignored.
However, the Russian attack in Ukraine, but also the Hamas attack on Israel, has shown that this is not the case. “The threat scenarios have completely changed: We have to be able to repel an attack,” said Pistorius.
A danger that you don’t perceive and that you ignore, you can’t prepare for or prepare for. “This is the mentality change we need to talk about in the next few years.” Such a change in awareness takes time, but is already underway because people have noticed that there is war in Europe.
Defensive but not ready to attack
Pistorius explained that he could understand that people were disturbed by the term “war-ready” that he himself used. “Perhaps we should have a conversation about what stands behind the word ‘warworthy’: Efficiency is a special form of fitness – in the sense of ‘being able to control something’.”
Deterrence can only be guaranteed if we show ourselves ready to defend ourselves from a position of strength. Under no circumstances does this mean that one is aiming for a war, emphasized Pistorius: “That’s the last thing I want: to wage a war.”
With regard to the Bundeswehr’s ongoing procurement problems, Pistorius sees progress: the decision-making processes have been significantly shortened. For the “Leopard” tanks, the time until the contract was signed was reduced from twelve to six months, and for self-propelled howitzers from six to three months. It is important for the Bundeswehr that there is know-how in Germany when it comes to important technologies and that German companies are involved.
Pistorius calls for an opening Arms exports
With regard to the German arms export strategy, the minister called for reforms: There are states all over the world that are questioning the international rules-based order. Germany has a number of partners, for example in the Indo-Pacific, who are under pressure in the region.
If you deny them a strategic partnership because they don’t share 100% of all values with Germany, you’re driving them into the arms of the wrong people, and “that cuts off the branch on which we’re sitting when it comes to international relations and international economic transactions. ” This approach to opening is also reflected in the national security strategy.