“Die Lage – International”
Thousands of new tanks for the Bundeswehr – but who should steer them?
The Bundeswehr should get thousands of new fighting tanks and armored vehicles, although the soldiers are still missing. Why this seems haphazard but makes sense.
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NATO wants Germany to set up up to seven additional fighting brigades within the next ten years. That is why the Bundeswehr has to buy new material, very quickly and very much. The troop is to get 1,000 fighter tanks and 2500 armored vehicles by 2035 alone. Cost: 25 billion euros. In order not to lose time, the federal government wants to order the combat unit without being clarified beforehand whether there are enough soldiers who can drive the tanks later.
That looks haphazard, but it makes sense, says Christian Mölling from the Brussels Think Tank “European Policy Center”. “Time is running away,” said Mölling in the latest edition of the star– s “Die Lage -International”. “That’s why we have to take a bet: now get tanks – and at the same time try to get people for it.”
“Apparently they shy away from the Ministry of Defense”
Criticism from the opposition that the Federal Government’s tank procurement plans did not follow any recognizable plan, but expert Mölling still considers it justified-especially when it comes to communication: “The defense minister is the longest-serving minister in this government. One could have expected that he would go out on day two of his term. Apparently Boris Pistorius and his staff in the Federal Ministry of Defense were shyed by the political risk associated with open communication, says Mölling. “Possibly because you are afraid not to achieve goals that are once set.”
It is important not only to issue a political direction in procurement for the Bundeswehr, but also to create the legal requirements for it. Without the administrative officers in the Ministry of Department and the Bundeswehr’s procurement office, the political requirements could not implement the political requirements – without having to worry about personal consequences. The new philosophy of upgrading must be: “There will be things that go wrong. But at least we have to try it,” said Mölling expert. “The entire system has to change.”
In view of the large number of armaments projects that come to Germany, the question is entitled: “The parliament controls every single, small arms project? Then we won’t be after all.” In terms of armor, Germany has to make a “step change to the sprint”.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
