Latest news with #Bundeswehr
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
German military deems Russia 'existential risk' to nation and Europe, Spiegel reports
The German military deems Russia an "existential risk" to the country and Europe, according to a Spiegel news magazine report that cites a new Bundeswehr strategy paper. The confidential document warns that the Kremlin is aligning both its industrial and leadership structures "specifically to meet the requirements for a large-scale conflict against NATO by the end of this decade." Russia is verifiably preparing for a conflict with NATO, particularly by strengthening forces in western Russia "at the borders with NATO," the report cites the strategy paper as saying. As early as next year, Russia could have around 1.5 million soldiers on active duty, according to the paper. Germany can only counter this threat "with a consistent development of military and society-wide capabilities," the document concludes. Live Events Military personnel and experts developed the strategy paper over the past 18 months to serve as a guideline for the future direction of Germany's Bundeswehr, the Spiegel report said. The defence ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz recently backed U.S. President Donald Trump's demand to hike NATO's defence spending target to 5% of national GDP, a major shift made possible by a historic loosening of Berlin's constitutional debt brake.
Reuters
11 hours ago
- Business
- Reuters
German military deems Russia 'existential risk' to nation and Europe, Spiegel reports
Berlin, June 20 (Reuters) - The German military deems Russia an "existential risk" to the country and Europe, according to a Spiegel news magazine report that cites a new Bundeswehr strategy paper. The confidential document warns that the Kremlin is aligning both its industrial and leadership structures "specifically to meet the requirements for a large-scale conflict against NATO by the end of this decade." Russia is verifiably preparing for a conflict with NATO, particularly by strengthening forces in western Russia "at the borders with NATO," the report cites the strategy paper as saying. As early as next year, Russia could have around 1.5 million soldiers on active duty, according to the paper. Germany can only counter this threat "with a consistent development of military and society-wide capabilities," the document concludes. Military personnel and experts developed the strategy paper over the past 18 months to serve as a guideline for the future direction of Germany's Bundeswehr, the Spiegel report said. The defence ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz recently backed U.S. President Donald Trump's demand to hike NATO's defence spending target to 5% of national GDP, a major shift made possible by a historic loosening of Berlin's constitutional debt brake.
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Putin on Iran and Germany's Merz
ST PETERSBURG, Russia - Russian President Vladimir Putin made the following comments to senior news agency editors on the conflict between Iran and Israel and on whether he would be willing to speak to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. ASKED ABOUT ISRAELI REMARKS ABOUT POSSIBLE REGIME CHANGE IN IRAN: "You always need to look at whether the goal is achieved or not when starting something. We see that today in Iran, with all the complexity of the internal political processes taking place there, we are aware of this, and I think there is no point in going deeper, but nevertheless there is a consolidation of society around the country's political leadership. This happens almost always and everywhere, and Iran is no exception. This is the first thing. "The second thing that is very important is that everyone is talking about it, I will only repeat what we know and hear from all sides, these underground factories, they exist, nothing has happened to them. And in this regard, it seems to me that it would be right for everyone to look for ways to end hostilities and find ways for all parties to this conflict to come to an agreement with each other in order to ensure both Iran's interests, on the one hand, for its nuclear activities, including peaceful nuclear activities, of course (I mean peaceful nuclear energy and the peaceful atom in other areas), as well as to ensure the interests of Israel from the point of view of the unconditional security of the Jewish state. This is a delicate issue, and, of course, you need to be very careful here, but in my opinion, in general, such a solution can be found." ASKED IF HE WOULD BE WILLING TO SPEAK TO GERMANY'S MERZ: "If the Federal Chancellor wants to call and talk, I have already said this many times - we do not refuse any contacts. And we are always open to this... At some point, when our European partners decided to inflict a strategic defeat on us on the battlefield, they themselves stopped these contacts. They stopped, let them resume. We are open to them. "I do doubt if Germany can contribute more than the United States as a mediator in our negotiations with Ukraine. A mediator must be neutral. And when we see German tanks and Leopard (battle tanks) on the battlefield, and now we are looking at the fact that the Federal Republic is considering supplying Taurus (missiles) for attacks on Russian territory using not only the equipment itself, but also using Bundeswehr officers... Here, of course, big questions arise. It is well known that if this happens, it will not affect the course of hostilities, that is excluded. But it will spoil our relationship completely. "Therefore, today we consider the Federal Republic, just like many other European countries, not a neutral state, but as a party supporting Ukraine, and in some cases, perhaps, as accomplices in these hostilities. Nevertheless, if we are talking about a desire to talk about this topic, to present some ideas on this subject, I repeat once again, we are always ready for this." REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Local Germany
4 days ago
- Politics
- Local Germany
German army struggles for fresh recruits as conscription threat grows
The main event took place Sunday next to the parliament in Berlin, with the armed forces, known as the Bundeswehr, setting up booths, as well as a free outdoor concert, food trucks and games for children. Due to pacifist traditions stemming from its dark World War II history, Germany has generally been reluctant to honour the military so publicly. But attitudes are changing since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, prompting Berlin to launch a drive to overhaul its long-neglected armed forces. Doubts about US commitment to Europe's security under President Donald Trump are also adding impetus to the efforts. Nowadays there is "more encouragement for us soldiers" from the public, Maik Mutschke, a 39-year-old former soldier who was severely injured in Afghanistan in 2010, told AFP at the event. "Twenty years ago, wearing a uniform was frowned upon," said Jens Ruths, who lost the use of a leg after stepping on a mine in Kosovo in 1999. But now, "taxi drivers and people we meet on the street thank us more than before," said the 47-year-old. Modelled after the American tradition, the first ever German "Veterans Day" was dedicated to active-duty soldiers as well as true veterans, with some 130 events held nationwide. Advertisement Regional daily the Koelner Stadt-Anzeiger, based in the western city of Cologne, said the event would "usher in a new era" as Germany "discovers its army". This sentiment was echoed at the Berlin event, where Petra Muhl, a 46-year-old former soldier, said Germans were increasingly worried that "war is getting closer", following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. "People naturally realise they need an army," said Muhl. 'Struggling to recruit' Former chancellor Olaf Scholz began the military overhaul by announcing more funds for the armed forces, which had shrunk substantially since the end of the Cold War and German reunification. New Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who took office in May, has gone further by largely exempting defence spending from Germany's strict debt rules, and pledging to build up "the strongest conventional army in Europe". Advertisement But the Bundeswehr -- which has a target of boosting the number of its soldiers from 181,000 currently to 203,000 by 2031 -- is struggling to recruit. Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has upped the ante even more, saying the army will require up to 60,000 additional troops under new NATO requirements due to the Russian threat. It is hoped that events like "Veterans Day" can "motivate people... to become reservists or enlist as soldiers", said Anna-Maria Jeremic, a 21-year-old reservist. But some fear such efforts will not be enough, and calls are growing for a return of conscription, which was officially suspended in 2011. Economic daily Handelsblatt recently reported that a draft law is being prepared to reinstate conscription if recruitment targets are not met. Pistorius has not confirmed this, but did suggest in parliament last month that the recruitment drive may not remain voluntary. The government was hoping to create a "military service that is initially based on voluntary participation and is intended to encourage young people to serve their country", he said. "And I say quite deliberately and honestly, the emphasis is on 'initially' in case we cannot recruit enough volunteers."
Euronews
5 days ago
- Politics
- Euronews
Russia launches fresh massive aerial attack on Ukraine.
Local Ukrainian media quoted Ukrainian authorities on Sunday morning reporting another massive aerial attack, involving drones, artillery and missiles, among them the hypersonic Khinzal, as well as Iskander and Kalibr cruise missiles. In the southern city of Kherson, one person was killed and another injured, Kherson Oblast administration reported. The main target was the city of Kremenchuk in Poltava Oblast. There were no reported casualties but energy and agricultural facilities were hit by debris. Of the nearly 200 weapons, the Ukrainian air force reported 111 drones downed with a further 48 diverted, and two Kinzhal, three Iskander-K and three Kalibr missiles shot down. Germany will mark its first-ever Veterans' Day on 15 June. Defence Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) said it was about "recognising those who are willing to go the extra mile for others, and who risk life and limb for our country". Getting to this point has taken years, though. "We've been campaigning for this Veterans' Day for nearly 15 years," said Andreas Eggert, Secretary General of the German Veterans' Association, Bund Deutscher EinsatzVeteranen e.V, speaking to Euronews. Germany needed a day that properly acknowledges the service of its veterans. But before that could happen, the association had to reintroduce and redefine the very concept of a veteran. The word itself was long burdened by its associations with the Second World War, added David Hallbauer, the association's Deputy Federal Chairman. The goal, he explains, was to establish a new understanding – that the Bundeswehr had developed its own, modern tradition, from which a distinct veteran identity could emerge. When the Association of German Veterans was founded in 2010, it faced significant opposition. "People dismissed us as outdated," Hallbauer recalled. "We first had to explain that we were talking about individuals who had rendered a special service to Germany through their time in the Bundeswehr." For the Association of German Veterans, it's not just about recognition and appreciation, but also about supporting those who were injured in service. A National Veterans' Day can serve as a platform to highlight these issues and shine a light on the shortcomings that still need to be addressed. This includes mental health support, particularly for soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Many wait years for help. According to Eggert, the longest known case he's aware of took 13 years before support was granted. "We have a real problem with bureaucracy dragging everything out," Hallbauer explained, adding that for those affected, it feels like a war after the war. "These delays could be avoided by speeding up the decision-making process. If someone has to wait twelve years to be recognised, that's clearly not in anyone's interest," he said. Before a case is approved, authorities must establish a direct link between a deployment and the resulting illness. "You first have to prove that you were even deployed," Hallbauer explained. "As someone who's been injured, you're expected to demonstrate that you were on the ground – and that the experience you had there damaged your health." Eggert adds that in Germany, there's an additional hurdle: the traumatic event itself must meet strict criteria before any therapy or treatment is approved. As part of what's known as the military service compensation process, the extent of an individual's injury is assessed – which then determines any potential pension entitlements. "The process often seems designed more to fend off claims than to support those affected," said Eggert. "That's why all cases are treated in the same rigid manner at first." Personal history, including childhood experiences, is also taken into account – something the Veterans' Association sees as misguided. "Instead of focusing on individual background factors unrelated to trauma, the process should centre on the incident that occurred during deployment and the resulting physical or psychological strain," Eggert concluded. According to him, a shift in the burden of proof would mark real progress. "It shouldn't be up to the injured person to prove that deployment made them ill, the Bundeswehr should have to prove that it didn't. That kind of reversal is exactly what's been missing so far. It appears there's no political will to change that", he told Euronews. "It should be possible for a soldier to go on deployment with peace of mind, knowing that if they're injured, they'll be properly looked after," Hallbauer. This sense of security, he continued, simply doesn't exist in Germany today. Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, defence has returned to the political agenda across much of Europe. Former Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) declared a "Zeitenwende" – a turning point, after Russia started its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Defence spending has since increased, with the stated aim of making Germany "fit for war" once again. But if a country is to be made fit for defence, the initial focus is naturally on rearmament, said Eggert. "We're facing shortages in both equipment and personnel. That's where a large portion of the money is going. But it would have been good if even just 10 million of the 100-billion-euro special fund had been set aside to properly care for those who are injured, wounded, or fall ill during deployment."
