German Bundeswehr army soldiers. © Michaela Rehle / Reuters
Defense News: German military too small to aid ‘collective defense,’ official says
For the largest economy in Europe, Germany’s military — the Bundeswehr — sure is small.
In fact, although smaller missions, like those in Afghanistan, remain possible, a larger conflict would likely catch the Bundeswehr off-guard, said Hans-Peter Bartels, parliamentary commissioner for the armed forces, in an interview with a German magazine.
Although the budget has increased slightly following criticism by U.S. President Donald Trump, the operational readiness of the German forces has further deteriorated this past year.
“The hard currency, in which the success of the [defense] minister is measured, is the readiness of the Bundeswehr,” Bartels said. “And that has not really improved in the last four years, but rather has become worse.”
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Update: German Official: Military Is Virtually ‘Not Deployable for Collective Defense’ (Washington Free Beacon)
WNU Editor: The German military has the 9th largest defense budget in the world, and they cannot even field an effective force?!?!?!?
4 comments:
this situation is not unique to the Germans. Western militaries have lost their way. In my opinion, they are being softened and de-masculineized. Which will make for blunders across the board and eventually contribute to war.
WNU Editor,
By your editor comment you seem surprised that Germany cannot field an effective fighting force despite the large amount it spends on its military. Very respectfully you should not be. As I have patiently pointed out here and elsewhere numerous times, how much money a country spends on its military is the least important metric when measuring a nation's military capability or comparing the military capabilities of different countries.
manstein,
You nailed it I could not have put this any better myself, however, I would add especially in the case of America the ridiculous amount of fruitless operations around the world combined with ridiculous security agreements with "allies" who if we turn our backs on we will find knives thrust into our backs that not only don't advance American interest but actually undermine them are sapping our strength, killing the morale of our soldiers, and have ground our military into powder.
It's become so bad that American Naval crews no longer understand basic navigation. Now how are we supposed to go up against major powers like Russia and China in such an environment as our leaders seem h!ll bent on making us do. I
In the case of Russia none of our leaders have never adequately explained why Eastern European chumps and the horribly corrupt government of Ukraine are worth a new cold war with Russia. Where I come from when the price to end a conflict is cost free and ending such a conflict carries huge upside potential on DOES NOT HESITATE TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY/ Our leadership unfortunately even POTUS it appears has all gone bat sh!t crazy.
In the case of China, no one has adequately explained why enforcing territorial claims of China's neighbors against china is an endeavor worth American blood or treasure. If these nations have such disputes, GO FIGHT FOR IT!! LEAVE US OUT OF IT!! We have a mountain of issues we need to deal with. Enforcing their territorial claims gains us nothing and has huge costs.
As for South Korea, perhaps it is time to cut them loose. We've been their pawns long enough and having our men and women there when they are really best utilized elsewhere based upon our needs and interests has been utterly humiliating to us for about 65 years and the humiliation only grows with each day it continues. At a minimum, any negotiated settlement HAS TO HAVE A PVOVISION WEHREBY WE ARE ABLE TO REMOVE OUR FORCES.
Perhaps it is time to cut a separate deal with North Korea whereby we end our conflict with them. When freed from the South Korean yoke, I could see how this would free up resources making it easier to respond to national security challenges and grant us more flexibility in dealing with any threat from North Korea should it materialize.
The US taxpayer is happy to defend Germany, why would Germany waste their own money?
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