Bundestag Defense Commissioner: The German army lacks everything!
The German military, which is seeking to modernize its capabilities in a tense international context, is lacking everything despite the progress it has made thanks to increased spending in recent years, according to the German Bundestag defense commissioner.
“In 2024, many improvements have been made and many things have been achieved, but we are still far from the goal and there is still a lot to be done,” Eva Högl said, during the presentation of her annual report, Tuesday.
The official in charge of monitoring the development of the army added that the capabilities of the German armed forces in terms of personnel, equipment and infrastructure must be improved quickly.
Högl also stressed during a press conference that the need for a fully functional army has become more important than ever in an international context dominated by conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, but also the worrying policy currently being pursued by the American ally.
Thanks to the funds Germany has allocated to develop its army since the start of the war in Ukraine in February 2022, the report was less pessimistic compared to previous years, with progress recorded.
But the German military’s weaknesses remain: a lack of personnel, modern equipment and infrastructure such as largely dilapidated barracks.
The report indicated that 82% of the 100 billion euros allocated for defense, which was established by Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s government following the start of the Russian war in Ukraine, had been used.
In addition, incoming conservative Chancellor Friedrich Merz and the Social Democrats announced a few days ago that they want to boost defense investments on an unprecedented scale, by easing budget controls.
The aim will be to reach at least 100 billion Euros per year in defense spending, double the current budget, as it would bring Germany closer to the annual threshold of 3% of GDP allocated to defense, in line with a new target that NATO countries may soon set themselves.
