Latest news with #Zeitenwende
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Germany vows to step up militarily but rhetoric may struggle to match reality
Within days of Russia launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Olaf Scholz announced a Zeitenwende, or historical 'turning point'. The then German chancellor promised a security transformation by increasing defence spending, sending more aid to Ukraine, taking a tougher approach to authoritarian states and rapidly reducing Germany's dependence on Russian energy. It was a psychological turning point for a country haunted by its Nazi past but now expected to step up – as the biggest economic power in Europe – to a threat to the continent. However, two years later, the German Council on Foreign Relations published a report saying Scholz's transformation had yet 'to deliver meaningful change'. So with a new chancellor, can Zeitenwende be for real this time? There is no lack of action, or rhetoric. Since taking office three weeks ago, Friedrich Merz has vowed Germany will have the strongest conventional army in Europe, hosted the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in Berlin and visited Kyiv, and attended the unveiling of German troops in Lithuania, the first permanent stationing of German troops on foreign soil since the second world war. Critically, he released the debt brake, so unleashing badly needed spending on the Bundeswehr, Germany's military. In his opening speech as chancellor he promised to provide all necessary financial resources for this. Germany's allies expect this, Merz said in his government statement, 'indeed, they practically demand it'. He announced his intention to transform Germany from a 'dormant to a leading middle power'. He has already slipped easily into that role. In Lithuania he said 'the protection of Vilnius is the protection of Berlin. And our common freedom does not end at a geopolitical line – it ends where we stop defending it'. This from a country that as recently as 2011 saw its federal president resign under criticism for suggesting military action might be necessary in an emergency to 'protect our interests'. But not everything is going smoothly. On Monday, Merz had announced there were no longer any restrictions on the weapons supplied to Ukraine by Britain, France, Germany and the US, and that Ukraine could now do 'long-range fire'. The implication was that Germany's prized 500km-range Taurus missiles was to be finally made available, as indeed Merz had vowed while in opposition. This meant Moscow was vulnerable to these bunker-busting bombs, as were Crimea's strategic bridges. A response from Moscow was immediate. Sergei Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, said: 'To hear from the current German leader that Germany will regain its position as the leading military power in Europe just after we celebrated the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Hitler's anniversary is quite symptomatic. History apparently teaches these people nothing.' The former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev has reminded the world of the Nazi past of Merz's father, and warned yet again of the threat of world war three. The reality of what Merz is offering Ukraine is somewhat more complex, as is what he can do to meet Nato's wider demands of an expanding German army. The day after his 'no limits' commitment he was forced to qualify his statement by saying this had been the case for a long time, and then prevaricating on whether he would meet his opposition pledge to supply Taurus. The strong suspicion is that the finance minister, Lars Klingbeil, of the Social Democratic party – Merz's coalition partners – blocked Merz. The episode was reminiscent of the paralysis that disfigured the previous coalition government. It may also be in office that Merz has been made more aware of complexities including the need for Ukrainians to have six months' training on their use, and the implications of the German soldiers giving training inside Ukraine. The government has now retreated to a position of strategic ambiguity on what he will do, and focused on offering Ukraine a partnership to jointly build missiles. Merz's allies said the episode was not entirely futile. Thomas Röwekamp, of the Christian Democratic Union, who is chair of the Bundestag's defence committee, told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper that by rejecting range limitations, Merz had 'removed one argument preventing the Taurus from being delivered'. This is not yet a 'commitment' to the delivery of Taurus but the reason for the previous refusal had been 'removed'. The wider risk for Merz is that his rhetoric does not match the reality of what he can deliver, and rebuilding a German army after decades of neglect will take many years. For instance in 2021, Germany agreed by 2030 to provide 10 brigades to Nato – units usually comprising about 5,000 troops. It currently has eight brigades and is building up the ninth in Lithuania to be ready from 2027. Overall, it has approximately 182,000 soldiers serving in the force, plus, according to the defence minister, Boris Pistorius, 60,000 available reservists. By comparison, during the cold war up to 500,000 soldiers served in the Bundeswehr, which had access to about 800,000 reservists. By 2031, the number of active soldiers is to grow to 203,000. Still, however long it takes, and whatever the missteps, Germany's partners have already mentally adjusted to the return of Germany as the premier military force in Europe.
Telegraph
5 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
Germany is finally ready to face Putin
Three years, three months and two days ago, Olaf Scholz declared that Germany would undergo a historic 'Zeitenwende' – or 'changing of the times', pivoting its attitude towards Russia and its own defence and security. Scholz flopped on his promise, but it seems that Germany's new chancellor Friedrich Merz is determined to deliver where his predecessor failed and finally square up to Russia. For the first time, Merz hosted Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky in Berlin yesterday. Building on their meeting alongside other European leaders earlier in the month, Merz announced a new €5 billion (£4.2 billion) aid package for Ukraine. The chancellor agreed to finance a portion of Ukraine's Starlink satellite coverage, so crucial for secure communication by Kyiv's troops along the front line, and provide additional materiel and logistical support. Germany would also support Ukraine in other ways, including new sanctions on Russia and making sure the Nord Stream 2 pipeline would 'never be used again'. The star item of Merz's package, however, was a commitment that Germany will finance the production of long-range missiles on Ukrainian soil. Berlin will invest directly into the Ukrainian arms industry, providing a much-needed boost to the country's industry to help its ability to supply itself with weapons quickly, rather than simply waiting for western donations. Announcing the joint missile development project, Merz added pointedly: 'There will be no range restrictions, allowing Ukraine to fully defend itself, even against military targets outside its own territory.' In other words, Berlin won't stand in the way of Zelensky wanting to use these weapons – which will most likely have a range of over 150 miles – to strike deep into Russian territory. According to the German ministry of defence, they will start to filter through to the front line in a matter of weeks. Merz's new package for Ukraine came two days after the chancellor sparked a great deal of confusion by declaring that there were 'no longer any restrictions on weapons delivered to Ukraine'. Thanks to Scholz's reticence about triggering an escalation in the conflict with Russia, Germany had never donated long-range missiles to Ukraine, so it was unclear why Berlin would have a say over how those which had been used. Tellingly, on Monday he added: 'A country that can only counter an aggressor on its own territory is not adequately defending itself.' Now, in light of yesterday's announcement, this makes a lot more sense. It is clear that Merz is more comfortable than Scholz with taking a more confrontational line with Putin. In the first week of his chancellorship, he issued an order for the defence ministry to stop publishing lists of the weapons being sent to Ukraine to avoid giving the Kremlin an insight into Kyiv's arsenal. This policy of 'strategic ambiguity' for Ukraine suggests Merz wants to make good on his promise to make Germany a European bulwark against Russia. Thanks to his tough talk on defence for Ukraine, there is now, however, one promise that Merz is under pressure to keep: giving Kyiv Taurus missiles. With a range of 300 miles, they would, in theory, allow Ukrainian troops to strike as far as Moscow. Just last month, Merz reaffirmed his pledge to do just this – but only 'in agreement with European partners'. Germany has already, for many years, been Ukraine's largest European aid donor. But, to engineer a fair end to the war for Ukraine, and defend the continent's security interests, it is now up to Merz to shed the nerves of Berlin's previous administration and stand strong against Russia.
DW
19-05-2025
- Business
- DW
Germany eyes strongest EU army by 2031 – DW – 05/18/2025
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz plans to make the Bundeswehr the "strongest conventional army in Europe." Other EU countries also have ambitious plans for their armed forces. DW takes a closer look. US President Donald Trump can feel vindicated: Germany's new foreign minister, Johann Wadephul, said this week that the government had accepted the president's demand to invest 5% of GDP in defense. Speaking at a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Antalya, Turkey, on Thursday, Wadephul also said Germany would support NATO's proposal to provide 3.5% for classic military purposes and an additional 1.5% for defense-related infrastructure. It will likely only become clear how much all the members of the security alliance plan to invest at a NATO summit scheduled for the end of June in The Hague, Netherlands. Wadephul's comments came a day after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced that he wanted to transform the Bundeswehr into the "strongest conventional army in Europe." Germany plans historic security shift If Germany goes ahead and increases its defense expenditure to 5% of GDP, it will be making a historic turnaround in security policy. Since the end of the Cold War, it has primarily relied on international cooperation, diplomacy and a culture of strategic military restraint. But former Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Zeitenwende speech on February 27, 2022, three days after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, marked a turning point. German FM backs 5% NATO spending target To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Subsequently, the German government set up a special fund of €100 billion (about $112 billion) for the Bundeswehr. In 2024, regular defense spending amounted to around €90 billion, around 2.1% of GDP. An increase to 5% will require a future defense budget of over €160 billion per year. This will have enormous implications that have not yet been fully calculated, and for which the funds have yet to be raised. The Bundeswehr currently consists of around 182,000 soldiers on active duty. The Defense Ministry plans to raise those numbers to at least 203,000 by 2031, with some experts even speaking of 240,000 soldiers. Ongoing modernization efforts will affect all branches of the armed forces: the aim is to replace outdated tanks, aircraft and ships, to develop digitalization and expand command and control capabilities. The key industrial players in Germany are Rheinmetall, Airbus Defence and Space and the Diehl Group, which are becoming increasingly geared toward exports alongside foreign partners. France only EU state with a nuclear deterrent France, which is the only nuclear power in the EU, has pursued a strategy of global presence and military autonomy. Around 203,000 soldiers serve in the French army. The gendarmerie and other paramilitary units boast 175,000 members, and there are also at least 26,000 reservists. Thanks to its Charles de Gaulle nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and strategic submarines, the French navy also plays an important role in France's nuclear deterrence strategy. French Rafale fighter aircraft, some of which are nuclear-capable, are intended to secure air superiority. Since President Emmanuel Macron came to power in 2017, the French defense budget has increased significantly. In a dramatic televised speech at the beginning of March, Macron spoke of the "Russian threat" affecting all countries in Europe and said France should nearly double its defense spending. Many French Rafale fighter jets are nuclear-capable Image: PUNIT PARANJPE/AFP/Getty Images France's military budget used to be comparable to Germany's, but it has helped to build a more powerful army, not least because the state, which has a stake in the arms industry, has always promoted it strategically. Poland acts as bulwark on NATO's eastern flank For years, Poland has invested heavily in the military with the goal of developing the strongest land forces in Europe. In 2024, it allocated 4.12% of its GDP to its defense budget. The largest state on NATO's eastern flank specifically wants to deter Russia. The Polish Land Forces and Territorial Defense Army currently comprise about 150,000 soldiers. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk recently said the government is working on plans for the country to expand the ranks to 500,000 troops, including reservists. At the same time, the army and air force are to be supplied with more modern equipment, including more than 600 battle tanks, which have been ordered from South Korea and the US among others, as well as HIMARS rocket artillery systems, drones and F-35 fighter jets. The Polish navy, however, is considered to be rather weak. UK focuses on high tech The UK is also planning to increase its defense spending, to just under 2.4% of GDP. The focus will be on high tech: drones, artificial intelligence and laser systems. The Royal Navy, which has two aircraft carriers in service, and the Royal Air Force are already considered to be very modern. The government has planned to purchase dozens more F-35 fighter jets from the US. With around 140,000 active soldiers, the British Army is comparatively small. No significant increases in personnel are currently planned, in contrast to many EU countries. Last year, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized the UK's loyalty to NATO and said the country would play a "full role" in the alliance. The UK's military equipment, particularly the nuclear weapons stored on submarines, is more dependent on US technology than that of many EU countries. Italy has powerful air force, but army in need of reform According to NATO, Italy allocated 1.49% to its defense budget in 2024, which means it is still well below the 2% target. Nonetheless, the country is one of Europe's heavyweights, with 165,000 soldiers on active duty, two aircraft carriers and a powerful air force. However, Italy's land forces are considered to be outdated and in need of reform. But this is set to change, with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni saying she wants her country to have the strongest armored force in Europe. Italy has ordered more 1,000 combat and multi-purpose tanks from the German company Rheinmetall. In strategic terms, Italy is largely focused on the Mediterranean region and securing global trade routes. Italy already has a strong air force, but wants to boost its armored forces Image: Gianluca Vannicelli/IPA/picture alliance Global firepower ranking unlikely to change Despite these multibillion euro rearmament programs in Europe, little is likely to change in the global ranking of military strength, at least in the medium term. According to the 2025 Global Firepower review, the United States clearly leads and is followed by Russia, China, India and South Korea. The UK follows in sixth place, while France is ninth. Germany is currently 11th. For its annual review, the Global Firepower platform evaluates over 60 individual factors, from numbers of tanks and naval capacities to manpower, in order to compare the military strength of nations. This article was originally written in German.
DW
18-05-2025
- Business
- DW
Germany and other EU countries are bulking up militaries – DW – 05/18/2025
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz plans to make the Bundeswehr the "strongest conventional army in Europe." Other EU countries also have ambitious plans for their armed forces. DW takes a closer look. US President Donald Trump can feel vindicated: Germany's new foreign minister, Johann Wadephul, said this week that the government had accepted the president's demand to invest 5% of GDP in defense. Speaking at a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Antalya, Turkey, on Thursday, Wadephul also said Germany would support NATO's proposal to provide 3.5% for classic military purposes and an additional 1.5% for defense-related infrastructure. It will likely only become clear how much all the members of the security alliance plan to invest at a NATO summit scheduled for the end of June in The Hague, Netherlands. Wadephul's comments came a day after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced that he wanted to transform the Bundeswehr into the "strongest conventional army in Europe." Germany plans historic security shift If Germany goes ahead and increases its defense expenditure to 5% of GDP, it will be making a historic turnaround in security policy. Since the end of the Cold War, it has primarily relied on international cooperation, diplomacy and a culture of strategic military restraint. But former Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Zeitenwende speech on February 27, 2022, three days after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, marked a turning point. German FM backs 5% NATO spending target To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Subsequently, the German government set up a special fund of €100 billion (about $112 billion) for the Bundeswehr. In 2024, regular defense spending amounted to around €90 billion, around 2.1% of GDP. An increase to 5% will require a future defense budget of over €160 billion per year. This will have enormous implications that have not yet been fully calculated, and for which the funds have yet to be raised. The Bundeswehr currently consists of around 182,000 soldiers on active duty. The Defense Ministry plans to raise those numbers to at least 203,000 by 2031, with some experts even speaking of 240,000 soldiers. Ongoing modernization efforts will affect all branches of the armed forces: the aim is to replace outdated tanks, aircraft and ships, to develop digitalization and expand command and control capabilities. The key industrial players in Germany are Rheinmetall, Airbus Defence and Space and the Diehl Group, which are becoming increasingly geared toward exports alongside foreign partners. France only EU state with a nuclear deterrent France, which is the only nuclear power in the EU, has pursued a strategy of global presence and military autonomy. Around 203,000 soldiers serve in the French army. The gendarmerie and other paramilitary units boast 175,000 members, and there are also at least 26,000 reservists. Thanks to its Charles de Gaulle nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and strategic submarines, the French navy also plays an important role in France's nuclear deterrence strategy. French Rafale fighter aircraft, some of which are nuclear-capable, are intended to secure air superiority. Since President Emmanuel Macron came to power in 2017, the French defense budget has increased significantly. In a dramatic televised speech at the beginning of March, Macron spoke of the "Russian threat" affecting all countries in Europe and said France should nearly double its defense spending. Many French Rafale fighter jets are nuclear-capable Image: PUNIT PARANJPE/AFP/Getty Images France's military budget used to be comparable to Germany's, but it has helped to build a more powerful army, not least because the state, which has a stake in the arms industry, has always promoted it strategically. Poland acts as bulwark on NATO's eastern flank For years, Poland has invested heavily in the military with the goal of developing the strongest land forces in Europe. In 2024, it allocated 4.12% of its GDP to its defense budget. The largest state on NATO's eastern flank specifically wants to deter Russia. The Polish Land Forces and Territorial Defense Army currently comprise about 150,000 soldiers. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk recently said the government is working on plans for the country to expand the ranks to 500,000 troops, including reservists. At the same time, the army and air force are to be supplied with more modern equipment, including more than 600 battle tanks, which have been ordered from South Korea and the US among others, as well as HIMARS rocket artillery systems, drones and F-35 fighter jets. The Polish navy, however, is considered to be rather weak. UK focuses on high tech The UK is also planning to increase its defense spending, to just under 2.4% of GDP. The focus will be on high tech: drones, artificial intelligence and laser systems. The Royal Navy, which has two aircraft carriers in service, and the Royal Air Force are already considered to be very modern. The government has planned to purchase dozens more F-35 fighter jets from the US. With around 140,000 active soldiers, the British Army is comparatively small. No significant increases in personnel are currently planned, in contrast to many EU countries. Last year, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized the UK's loyalty to NATO and said the country would play a "full role" in the alliance. The UK's military equipment, particularly the nuclear weapons stored on submarines, is more dependent on US technology than that of many EU countries. Italy has powerful air force, but army in need of reform According to NATO, Italy allocated 1.49% to its defense budget in 2024, which means it is still well below the 2% target. Nonetheless, the country is one of Europe's heavyweights, with 165,000 soldiers on active duty, two aircraft carriers and a powerful air force. However, Italy's land forces are considered to be outdated and in need of reform. But this is set to change, with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni saying she wants her country to have the strongest armored force in Europe. Italy has ordered more 1,000 combat and multi-purpose tanks from the German company Rheinmetall. In strategic terms, Italy is largely focused on the Mediterranean region and securing global trade routes. Italy already has a strong air force, but wants to boost its armored forces Image: Gianluca Vannicelli/IPA/picture alliance Global firepower ranking unlikely to change Despite these multibillion euro rearmament programs in Europe, little is likely to change in the global ranking of military strength, at least in the medium term. According to the 2025 Global Firepower review, the United States clearly leads and is followed by Russia, China, India and South Korea. The UK follows in sixth place, while France is ninth. Germany is currently 11th. For its annual review, the Global Firepower platform evaluates over 60 individual factors, from numbers of tanks and naval capacities to manpower, in order to compare the military strength of nations. This article was originally written in German.
DW
18-05-2025
- Business
- DW
How Germany and Europe are bulking up militaries – DW – 05/18/2025
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz plans to make the Bundeswehr the "strongest conventional army in Europe." Other EU countries also have ambitious plans for their armed forces. DW takes a closer look. US President Donald Trump can feel vindicated: Germany's new foreign minister, Johann Wadephul, said this week that the government had accepted the president's demand to invest 5% of GDP in defense. Speaking at a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Antalya, Turkey, on Thursday, Wadephul also said Germany would support NATO's proposal to provide 3.5% for classic military purposes and an additional 1.5% for defense-related infrastructure. However, it will likely only become clear exactly how much all the members of the security alliance plan to invest at a NATO summit scheduled for the end of June in The Hague, Netherlands. Wadephul's comments came a day after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced that he wanted to transform the Bundeswehr into the "strongest conventional army in Europe." Germany plans historic security shift If Germany goes ahead and increases its defense expenditure to 5% of GDP, it will be making a historic turnaround in security policy. Since the end of the Cold War, it has primarily relied on international cooperation, diplomacy and a culture of strategic military restraint. But former Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Zeitenwende speech on February 27, 2022, three days after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, marked a turning point. German FM backs 5% NATO spending target To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Subsequently, the German government set up a special fund of €100 billion (about $112 billion) for the Bundeswehr. In 2024, regular defense spending amounted to around €90 billion, around 2.1% of GDP. An increase to 5% will require a future defense budget of over €160 billion per year. This will have enormous implications that have not yet been fully calculated, and for which the funds have yet to be raised. The Bundeswehr currently consists of around 182,000 soldiers on active duty. The Defense Ministry plans to raise those numbers to at least 203,000 by 2031, with some experts even speaking of 240,000 soldiers. Ongoing modernization efforts will affect all branches of the armed forces: the aim is to replace outdated tanks, aircraft and ships, to develop digitalization and expand command and control capabilities. The key industrial players in Germany are Rheinmetall, Airbus Defence and Space and the Diehl Group, which are becoming increasingly geared toward exports alongside foreign partners. France only EU state with a nuclear deterrent France, which is the only nuclear power in the EU, has pursued a strategy of global presence and military autonomy. Around 203,000 soldiers serve in the French army. The gendarmerie and other paramilitary units boast 175,000 members, and there are also at least 26,000 reservists. Thanks to its Charles de Gaulle nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and strategic submarines, the French navy also plays an important role in France's nuclear deterrence strategy. French Rafale fighter aircraft, some of which are nuclear-capable, are intended to secure air superiority. Since President Emmanuel Macron came to power in 2017, the French defense budget has increased significantly. In a dramatic televised speech at the beginning of March, Macron spoke of the "Russian threat" affecting all countries in Europe and said France should nearly double its defense spending. Many French Rafale fighter jets are nuclear-capable Image: PUNIT PARANJPE/AFP/Getty Images France's military budget used to be comparable to Germany's, but it has helped to build a more powerful army, not least because the state, which has a stake in the arms industry, has always promoted it strategically. Poland acts as bulwark on NATO's eastern flank For years, Poland has invested heavily in the military with the goal of developing the strongest land forces in Europe. In 2024, it allocated 4.12% of its GDP to its defense budget. The largest state on NATO's eastern flank specifically wants to deter Russia. The Polish Land Forces and Territorial Defense Army currently comprise about 150,000 soldiers. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk recently said the government is working on plans for the country to expand the ranks to 500,000 troops, including reservists. At the same time, the army and air force are to be supplied with more modern equipment, including more than 600 battle tanks, which have been ordered from South Korea and the US among others, as well as HIMARS rocket artillery systems, drones and F-35 fighter jets. The Polish navy, however, is considered to be rather weak. UK focuses on high tech The UK is also planning to increase its defense spending, to just under 2.4% of GDP. The focus will be on high tech: drones, artificial intelligence and laser systems. The Royal Navy, which has two aircraft carriers in service, and the Royal Air Force are already considered to be very modern. The government has planned to purchase dozens more F-35 fighter jets from the US. With around 140,000 active soldiers, the British Army is comparatively small. No significant increases in personnel are currently planned, in contrast to many EU countries. Last year, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized the UK's loyalty to NATO and said the country would play a "full role" in the alliance. The UK's military equipment, particularly the nuclear weapons stored on submarines, is more dependent on US technology than that of many EU countries. Italy has powerful air force, but army in need of reform According to NATO, Italy allocated 1.49% to its defense budget in 2024, which means it is still well below the 2% target. Nonetheless, the country is one of Europe's heavyweights, with 165,000 soldiers on active duty, two aircraft carriers and a powerful air force. However, Italy's land forces are considered to be outdated and in need of reform. But this is set to change, with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni saying she wants her country to have the strongest armored force in Europe. Italy has ordered more 1,000 combat and multi-purpose tanks from the German company Rheinmetall. In strategic terms, Italy is largely focused on the Mediterranean region and securing global trade routes. Italy already has a strong air force, but wants to boost its armored forces Image: Gianluca Vannicelli/IPA/picture alliance Global firepower ranking unlikely to change Despite these multibillion euro rearmament programs in Europe, little is likely to change in the global ranking of military strength, at least in the medium term. According to the 2025 Global Firepower review, the United States clearly leads and is followed by Russia, China, India and South Korea. The UK follows in sixth place, while France is ninth. Germany is currently 11th. For its annual review, the Global Firepower platform evaluates over 60 individual factors, from numbers of tanks and naval capacities to manpower, in order to compare the military strength of nations. This article was originally written in German.
