Pistorius: "War fitness as a maxim for action"
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) wants to consistently focus the Bundeswehr on protecting Germany and its allies.
To this end, reforms, the procurement of equipment and material as well as construction projects are to be accelerated. In new defense policy guidelines, which Pistorius presented in Berlin at the Bundeswehr conference, "war capability is the guiding principle". Pistorius and Inspector General Carsten Breuer write in the document: "We must be the backbone of deterrence and collective defense in Europe. Our population, but also our partners in Europe, North America and the world, expect us to face up to this responsibility."
"Germany must be defensive and resilient"
Following the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, the policy paper sets out the direction for the future course. It states: "Without fundamental internal change, the Russian Federation will remain the greatest threat to peace and security in the Euro-Atlantic area in the long term." However, developments in regions in Europe and its neighborhood, in particular North and West Africa, the Sahel region and the Middle East, could also pose risks to security and are of strategic military importance.
Germany must be resilient, i.e. stable as a society and state in the event of attacks and disruptive actions. Resilience is a task for the state and society as a whole, with the Bundeswehr as a core instrument. "To this end, it must be ready for war in all areas. This means that its personnel and equipment must be geared towards fulfilling its demanding missions," it says. "The yardstick for this is readiness for combat at all times with the claim to success in high-intensity combat. This is the only way to ensure credible deterrence and peace." Germany's security remains inextricably linked to that of our European partners and transatlantic allies.
Last defense policy guidelines presented in 2011
The guidelines call on decision-makers in the administration, military and authorities to make use of the leeway available to the Bundeswehr. When awarding contracts, existing exception clauses should be "consistently applied and procurement law options for speeding up the process". The equipment of the armed forces would be consistently geared towards market-available procurements. In-house development projects would be pursued, particularly in the area of national key technologies. Long-term financing beyond the 100 billion euro pot ("special assets") remains a prerequisite for functioning armed forces.
The developments of recent decades, in which international conflict management missions have become "structurally decisive" and national and alliance defense have been pushed into the background, cannot be reversed in just a few years. The guidelines state: "If necessary, the Bundeswehr would nevertheless already make its contribution to national and alliance defense with all available means." The last defense policy guidelines were presented in 2011.
The Federal Government, under Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, plans to accelerate reforms, equipment procurement, and construction projects in the German Armed Forces, with a focus on war capability. According to Pistorius and Inspector General Carsten Breuer, the Bundeswehr should serve as the backbone of deterrence and collective defense in Europe, fulfilling its responsibility towards its population and allies.
In light of the Russian war against Ukraine and potential threats in other regions, Germany needs to be resilient, with the Bundeswehr ready for war in all areas, ensuring credible deterrence and peace. Lastly, the defense policy guidelines presented in 2011 recognized the need for the Bundeswehr to contribute to national and alliance defense, even with limited resources, acknowledging that its mission-focus has shifted towards international conflict management over the past decades.
Source: www.dpa.com
