Germany’s military gap cannot be completely closed by 2030, defense minister According to Reuters
© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius attend the weekly Cabinet meeting at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany March 22, 2023. REUTERS/Michele Tantussi/
BERLIN (Reuters) – The German military cannot completely fill existing gaps by 2030, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius is quoted as saying, as Berlin seeks to reform its armed forces in the wake of the invasion. Russia’s strategy of Ukraine after decades of neglect.
“We all know that the current gaps cannot be completely filled by 2030… It will take many years. Everyone is aware of that,” Pistorius said in an interview with the newspaper. Welt am Sonntag newspaper published on Saturday.
Having deteriorated after decades of underinvestment since the end of the Cold War, experts say, the Bundeswehr is in even worse shape than it was a year ago due to arms and ammunition aid for Ukraine has hardly been replaced.
Pistorius refused to deliver more weapons to Ukraine from the Bundeswehr stockpile beyond its announced commitments.
“Frankly, like other countries, we have a limited amount of reserves. As federal defense minister, I can’t give everything away,” he said.
The minister, who was appointed earlier this year, said increasing the defense budget to meet NATO’s spending target of 2% of national output, from around 1.5% now, was a priority. his highest.
“If that is then established at the end of the (legislative) period, then I will be satisfied,” he added.
Germany is also planning a naval mission in the Indo-Pacific region next year and is strengthening partnerships with important countries in the region, such as Japan, Australia. , India, Indonesia, South Korea and Singapore, he said, adding that Europe’s freedom of navigation in the waters was “too challenging”.
