NATO’s two percent target
Bundeswehr Association wants commitment from Scholz
November 9, 2023, 2:04 a.m
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Defense Minister Pistorius needs more money for the Bundeswehr so that the troops can become “war-ready”. He is encountering resistance within the SPD. The Bundeswehr Association is demanding that Chancellor Scholz take a clear stance on this.
The chairman of the German Bundeswehr Association, André Wüstner, is calling for Chancellor Olaf Scholz to commit to NATO’s two percent target in the run-up to the Bundeswehr conference. “The conference is one of the most important events for our Bundeswehr. The fact that the Chancellor is coming again is an expression of a new appreciation, which is certainly related to our world in transition,” Wüstner told the “Rheinische Post”. “I also expect clear messages from the Chancellor that the traffic light coalition is crystal clear in its commitment to the troops despite all the challenges.”
According to Wüstner, this represents a clear commitment to the two percent target. The troops want to know how the SPD politician wants to achieve this “apart from a special fund,” Wüstner told the newspaper. He called for more and longer-term investments and demanded that the federal government place corresponding orders with the German defense industry. Wüstner was “confident that companies based in Germany could quickly increase their capacities if there are appropriate orders, framework agreements and prospects.”
“Democracy is under attack”
At the same time, the head of the Bundeswehr Association urged that more personnel be recruited quickly for the Bundeswehr in view of new and complex threats to the country. “Basically, if we want to continue to live freely and in peace, we need people who will defend our democracy with armed force if necessary. Because our values and our democracy are under attack, in the truest sense of the word,” said Wüstner.
He welcomed the recent statements by the Social Democratic Defense Minister Boris Pistorius that the Bundeswehr must become combat-ready again. It’s good that Pistorius calls a spade a spade. “Germany must become capable of war again in order to be able to credibly deter and, in extreme cases, defend itself. By the way, anyone who does not want the Bundeswehr to become capable of war again should immediately forego a future in freedom, justice and peace,” said Wuestner.
Pistorius had received criticism within the SPD for his assessment. SPD parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich distanced himself from this over the weekend and said he would not adopt this choice of words. “Becoming war worthy or capable of war does not do justice to the complexity,” Mützenich told the “Stuttgarter Zeitung”. This tends to fuel social conflicts.