Steinmeier dismisses Lambrecht
Pistorius appointed new defense minister
1/19/2023 8:42 am
Following the resignation of Christine Lambrecht, Boris Pistorius is following in the footsteps of his predecessor as Federal Defense Minister. Pistorius doesn’t have much time to warm up – the first meeting in his new position is already waiting for him.
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has appointed SPD politician Boris Pistorius as the new Federal Defense Minister. Steinmeier presented the previous interior minister of Lower Saxony with his certificate of appointment. At the same time, the Federal President dismissed Pistorius’ predecessor Christine Lambrecht, who had announced her resignation on Monday after sustained criticism of her conduct of office.
When he was appointed, Steinmeier warned that the Bundeswehr had to become “deterrable and ready to defend” again. Steinmeier said that Russia’s brutal attack on Ukraine destroyed the European security order. The Bundeswehr must “consistently” fulfill the core task of national and alliance defense and need a “solid” number of personnel. “As a strong country in the middle of Europe, we have a responsibility not only for ourselves but also for others,” added Steinmeier.
The Federal President stressed that Germany would continue to support Ukraine militarily and would help “rebuild a battered country”. “Germany is not at war, but the years of peace dividends, from which we Germans have benefited so much and for so long, are over,” said Steinmeier. An epoch against the wind is beginning for Germany. “We must respond to threats that are also aimed at us.”
Pistorius starts with a full schedule
With the appointment by Steinmeier, the 62-year-old Pistorius became the holder of authority and command over the German armed forces. At 9 a.m. Pistorius takes his oath of office in front of the Bundestag. The SPD politician will then be received with military honors at around 9.40 a.m. in the Federal Defense Ministry, and a short press statement is also planned. At around 11 a.m. the minister received his first foreign guest, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.
The two defense ministers are expected to attend an international meeting at the US base in Ramstein in Rhineland-Palatinate on Friday. The NATO states and other countries want to discuss increasing military aid for Ukraine there. In the run-up, the delivery of battle tanks was discussed in particular.