German Defense Minister: Germany is ready for a leading role in the Western alliance
“Let us — together — the United States and Germany — form a future with all those who stand for freedom, peace and a rules-based international order,” German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said in a speech at Johns Hopkins University in Washington on Thursday, stressing that his country is a steadfast and capable ally ready to assume its duties in alliance and in world politics.
Pistorius explained that Germany is in the midst of a military construction process and has abandoned the reluctance that has long characterized it, as is the case in the supply of weapons to war zones, adding that he wants to correct Germany’s abandonment of compulsory military service.
Pistorius said, “Times have changed,” speaking of making a “mistake” and said, “I am convinced that Germany needs some kind of military conscription,” stressing the need to ensure military steadfastness.
Pistorius said that it’s easy to fall into pessimism in light of the crises the world is witnessing, adding that he reacts to them with great determination, noting that Europeans also realize that the United States is focusing its attention on the Indo-Pacific region, and that it must respond to China’s armament, aggressive economic policy and pursuit of geopolitical hegemony, stressing that his country is determined to make a contribution here as well for a rules-based order.
“I am convinced that only America and Europe together can maintain and defend the power of the West against Russia’s expansionist ambitions and the insatiability of other actors towards power and hegemony,” Pistorius said.
“My message today is just as we have done at other important moments in the transatlantic partnership such as the Berlin airlift, the Marshall Plan or the reunification of Germany, let’s seize this transatlantic opportunity again,” he added.
The Marshall Plan was a U.S. program that helped European countries rebuild their economies after World War II, and Germany benefited in particular.
Pistorois continues his North American tour on Friday, where he leaves the United States for Canada and meets with Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair after meeting his U.S. counterpart Lloyd Austin in Washington.
