“Love of peace does not mean: sending to the strongest neighbor. If Ukraine gives up now parry “The result will not be peace, but the end of Ukraine,” he said. Olaf Schölz From the Bundestag (Federal Parliament) where almost exactly a year ago the leading European power proclaimed the so-called “Zeitwende” – the “change of term” – in defense policy. The purpose of that statement was: balance what is embodied in the paradigm shift of a country whose military has been dragged into years of budget cuts and abandonment.
The special fund of 100,000 million euros announced at the time, aimed at updating the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), has not yet materialized. But he did loyalty With the support of his green and liberal partners, all the words voiced by the social democrat Scholz at the time humanitarian, financial and military support possible for Ukraine. also a paradigm shift for a country that has not delivered weapons to warring regions until then.
Although Poland and other allies accuse Scholz of slow decision-making, the FRG is the European Union’s (EU) main contributor in absolute terms to the aid reaching Kiev. With the former Defense Secretary resigning earlier this year, Christine Lambrecht and at the same time relocating in favor of the social democrat Boris Pistorius, Germany ceased to be an indecisive ally.
arms shipment
An important factor was the introduction of German-made Leopard2 type battle tanks for shipment. Scholz’s army eliminates 18 of these armored vehicles and remains without an active unit on its territory for the training of its soldiers. This More contributions from Europe The battalion of 88 units, which Kiev expects to receive in the coming months, will be added by the end of the year, and by 2024 one hundred Leopards, which have received approval from Berlin for their delivery.
Scholz’s statement preceded the chancellor’s departure to Washington to meet with the president. Joe Biden. The aim of both leaders is to harmonize. Germany, like the United States, is as determined to defend Russia’s international isolation thesis as its Foreign Minister. sergei lavrov, He was exhibited with several colleagues at the G20 meeting in New Delhi.
Before the Bundestag, the Chancellor reiterated his aim to increase defense spending up to the NATO target of 2% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It rose from 1.1 percent in Germany in 2020 to 1.3 percent in 2021. “We ended the process abandonment status “Our armed forces will also provide a consolidated increase in the Defense budget until we reach the 2.0% target.”