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- Politics
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Merz, Trump and more: Why the world is loving military so much
Across continents and political ideologies, nations are embracing their militaries with unprecedented fervour from Germany's first-ever Veterans Day to Trump's parade politics and a global surge in defence spending read more First Lieutenant Zachary Buher and Staff Sergeant Cesar Lua, members of the U.S. Army's Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division operate a M1A2 SEP V3 tank during the Army's 250th Birthday parade in Washington, D.C., US., June 14, 2025. Reuters Across continents and political systems, a striking global shift is underway — a rising embrace of military power not just as a tool of defence, but as a central pillar of national identity and state legitimacy. From the celebratory tone of Germany's first-ever Veterans Day to Donald Trump's insistent revival of martial symbolism in the United States, governments are rekindling national pride through the lens of armed forces. This renewed affection for military institutions is not emerging in a vacuum. It's being shaped by active wars, changing geopolitics and a growing perception of external threat and internal instability. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Germany's U-Turn: Veterans Day and the 'Strongest Army in Europe' In a nation long haunted by its militaristic past, Germany's first national day for military veterans marked a cultural transformation. Germany's Defence Minister Boris Pistorius presided over commemorations held nationwide, referring to the day as a 'long-overdue signal of recognition' for the country's soldiers. This was more than just ceremony — it signalled Germany's shifting national narrative around its military. Sarah Brockmeier-Large from the Peace Research Institute in Frankfurt described the development as evidence of a new societal consensus: that a functioning democracy requires strong armed forces. Particularly after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Bundeswehr's role began to be reimagined from a relic of a dangerous past to a guardian of European stability. The political momentum didn't stop at cultural shifts. With Friedrich Merz's rise to chancellorship, Germany began implementing policies to radically expand its defence capability. Merz declared his aim to build the 'strongest conventional army in Europe,' promising increases in troop strength, new military equipment and greater integration into Nato-wide planning. His pledge to raise defence spending to 5 per cent of GDP—higher than even US levels—was both a statement of autonomy and an answer to long-standing demands from Washington. Trump's parade and the politics of power projection Across the Atlantic, the symbolic revival of the military under President Trump took a more theatrical form. But Trump's 79th birthday parade was overshadowed by widespread protests against his use of power, yet the military spectacle itself remained central to his political messaging. Trump framed the parade as a necessary affirmation of American military greatness, vowing that enemies of the U.S. would meet 'total and complete defeat' at the hands of its soldiers. Though the event was mired in political tension and civil unrest, the intent was unmistakable. Trump was reaffirming the military as a source of national pride and authority. This narrative, even amid domestic chaos, has helped normalise the public celebration of armed might, making military symbolism a cornerstone of political legitimacy in the US once again. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Wars as catalysts: Ukraine, West Asia, Africa It would be simplistic to suggest these developments are purely domestic. Ongoing global conflicts have created an atmosphere where military readiness is not just relevant — it's existential. The war in Ukraine remains a critical driver, especially for Europe. Trump's unpredictability regarding Nato commitments has compelled European nations to spend more and prepare for scenarios without guaranteed US protection. In parallel, West Asia continues to convulse with violence. According to the Geneva Academy, more than 45 armed conflicts are active in the region, involving both state and non-state actors and drawing in foreign powers like Russia and the US. Africa, too, faces similar turmoil, with over 35 non-international armed conflicts in countries such as Ethiopia, Mali and Nigeria. These theatres of war have prompted an unprecedented increase in defence budgets. According to the Council of the European Union, the continent saw a 30 per cent rise in defence expenditure between 2021 and 2024, hitting €326 billion ($377 billion). Further investment is expected as part of the EU's Readiness 2030 plan, which includes €150 billion ($173.5 billion) in defence loans and substantial funding for joint procurement and research. Asia's response: From assertiveness to alarm While Europe re-arms, Asia grapples with its own powder kegs. China has continued to assert military pressure on Taiwan and the South China Sea region, prompting alarm in neighbouring countries and accelerating regional arms races. India, surrounded by two hostile neighbours — China and Pakistan — finds itself under strategic compulsion to boost its military preparedness. Operation Sindoor highlighted India's military necessities in a volatile neighbourhood. Pakistan is a 'military state' indistinguishable from the terrorist networks it harbours. India recently sent out multiple delegations across the globe to bust the Pakistani narrative of separation between state and non-state actors in the country. Pakistan watchers have said for long that the non-state actors in Pakistan have the patronage of its military establishment. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With Bangladesh showing increasing hostility and the global community largely silent, India has few options other than strengthening its own deterrence. The Indo-Pacific, in this regard, mirrors Europe's urgency. Nations are not just reacting to threats — they are preparing for scenarios where alliances may fail and self-defence becomes the only option. The blurred line between soldier and state Nowhere is the militarisation of state identity more pronounced than in regimes where the armed forces are the government. In Pakistan and North Korea, the military is not just an arm of the state but its ruling entity. Pakistani generals are said to not only guide national policy but are celebrated for military failures — an absurdity that reveals the deep entrenchment of the military in public life. This blurring of lines fosters authoritarianism. When the military becomes the symbol of unity and stability, democratic institutions and civilian oversight often erode. Trump's militarised political rhetoric, Germany's stance under Merz and China's aggression all suggest that even democratic nations are increasingly comfortable with ceding more political space to military logic and institutions. Industrial complex: Militarisation as economic strategy Behind the uniforms and parades lies a booming defence economy. The European defence industry, as reported by the Council of the European Union, saw a nearly 17 per cent increase in turnover in 2023, with over €158 billion ($182.7 billion) in revenue. Job creation has followed suit, with more than 580,000 employed across military aeronautics, naval and land sectors. This investment is not just about security — it's about industrial strategy. A stronger defence industry is seen as a route to greater economic independence and technological superiority. With small and medium enterprises deeply embedded in the supply chain, militarisation has become an engine of economic growth and political capital. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A new global normal? States are no longer relying solely on diplomacy or multilateral institutions to ensure peace. Instead, they are returning — some proudly, others cautiously — to the old logic of strength through force. From Berlin to Washington, Paris to New Delhi, the love for the military is not just emotional. It is strategic, economic, and, in many cases, political. Whether born out of necessity, nostalgia or national insecurity, this global wave of militarism is not a blip. It is a symptom of a world bracing for conflict.
GMA Network
15-06-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
After day of nationwide protests, Trump's military parade rolls through DC
Members of the US Army's Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division operate a M1A2 SEP V3 tank down Constitution Avenue as they move past US President Donald Trump during the Army's 250th Birthday parade in Washington, DC, US, June 14, 2025. REUTERS/Brian Snyder WASHINGTON/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO - President Donald Trump's long-sought military parade rolled though the streets of downtown Washington on Saturday, but the celebration of the US Army's 250th anniversary was marred by a day of violence and discord. In the hours before the parade began, hundreds of thousands of Americans marched and rallied in streets in cities from New York to Chicago to Los Angeles, protesting Trump's actions while in office, in the largest such actions since his return to power in January. Earlier in the day, a gunman assassinated a Democratic lawmaker and wounded another in Minnesota and remained at large. Meanwhile, Israel and Iran exchanged further attacks early on Sunday, stoking fears of a mushrooming conflict between the two nations. All of it followed a week of tension in Los Angeles, where protests over federal immigration raids resulted in Trump calling in National Guard troops and US Marines to help keep the peace, over the objections of the state's Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom. The parade, which fell on Trump's 79th birthday, kicked off earlier than expected with thunderstorms forecast in the Washington area. Tanks, armored personnel carriers and artillery rumbled down the parade route along storied Constitution Avenue, an unusual sight in the US where such displays of military might are rare. "Every other country celebrates their victories, it's about time America did too," Trump told the crowd following the parade. Thousands of spectators lined up along the route. Trump watched the proceedings from an elevated viewing stand behind bulletproof glass. Some of the president's opponents also managed to find a spot along the parade route, holding signs in protest. Other demonstrators were kept separate from the parade crowd by local police. The US Army has brought nearly 7,000 troops into Washington, along with 150 vehicles, including more than 25 M1 Abrams tanks, 28 Stryker armored vehicles, four Paladin self-propelled artillery vehicles, and artillery pieces including the M777 and M119. Army's history The parade traced the history of the Army from its founding during the Revolutionary War through modern day. Trump frequently stood and saluted troops as they marched by. Members of Trump's cabinet including Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio looked on. Trump had first expressed interest in a military parade in Washington early in his first 2017-2021 term in office. In 1991, tanks and thousands of troops paraded through Washington to celebrate the ousting of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's forces from Kuwait in the Gulf War. The celebrations were expected to cost the US Army between $25 million and $45 million, US officials have told Reuters. That includes the parade itself as well as the cost of moving equipment and housing and feeding the troops. Critics have called the parade an authoritarian display of power that is wasteful, especially given Trump has said he wants to slash costs throughout the federal government. Bryan Henrie, a Trump supporter, flew in from Texas to celebrate the Army's anniversary and did not see any issues with tanks rolling down the streets of Washington. 'I don't see a controversy. I will celebrate safety and stability any day over anarchy,' 61-year-old Henrie said. 'Shame! Shame!' Earlier in the day, thousands marched in Washington and other cities in protest of Trump's policies. The demonstrations were largely peaceful, and marked the largest outpouring of opposition to Trump's presidency since he returned to power in January. In Los Angeles, however, the situation remained tense. About an hour before a downtown curfew, police officers mounted on horses were aggressively pushing back demonstrators, using gas, flash bangs and other less lethal munitions, causing large groups to panic and flee. Protesters were firing what police called commercial-grade fireworks against officers, along with rocks and bottles. Some demonstrators wore gas masks and helmets and vowed to stay in the area for many more hours. A crowd earlier had confronted soldiers guarding a federal building, yelling 'Shame! Shame!' and 'Marines, get out of LA!' Anti-Trump groups planned nearly 2,000 demonstrations across the country to coincide with the parade. Many took place under the theme "No Kings," asserting that no individual is above the law. Thousands of people of all ages turned out in and around Bryant Park in Midtown Manhattan, many carrying homemade signs that played off the 'No Kings' theme. 'No crown for a clown,' said one. Actor Mark Ruffalo was among the demonstrators, wearing a hat that read "immigrant." 'We're seeing dehumanizing language towards LGBT people, towards people with autism, towards people with other disabilities, racial minorities, undocumented people,' said Cooper Smith, 20, from upstate New York. 'Somebody's got to show that most Americans are against this.' Protesters in downtown Chicago stood off against police on Saturday, with some waving upside-down American flags and chanting: 'Who do you protect? Who do you serve?' and 'No justice, no peace." Members of the far-right Proud Boys, ardent Trump supporters, appeared at an Atlanta "No Kings" protest, wearing the group's distinctive black and yellow colors. About 400 protesters, organized by a group called marched through Washington and gathered for a rally in a park opposite the White House. Trump had warned people against protesting at the parade itself, saying that "they're going to be met with very big force." Sunsara Taylor, a founder of RefuseFascism, told the crowd, 'Today we refuse to accept Donald Trump unleashing the military against the people of this country and in the streets of this country. We say, 'Hell no.'' —Reuters
