Germany’s military, the Bundeswehr, recently got the all-clear for a massive increase in investment after parliament voted to exempt defence spending from strict rules on debt.
The country’s top general has told the BBC the cash boost is urgently needed because he believes Russian aggression won’t stop at Ukraine.
“We are threatened by Russia. We are threatened by Putin. We have to do whatever is needed to deter that,” Gen Carsten Breuer says. He warns that Nato should be braced for a possible attack in as little as four years.
“It’s not about how much time I need, it’s much more about how much time Putin gives us to be prepared,” the defence chief says bluntly. “And the sooner we are prepared the better.”
Europe spend billions on war already, they are already prepared for it and practice a war every year
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steadfast_Defender_2024
And Germany needs to spend more to get their shit in order. Right now their military is in a very poor shape.
You don’t defend your country or help your allies by just pointing at a balance sheet.
They spend billions each year their shit is already in order
They’re spending billions on military pensions alone. Doesn’t do anything for their military capability. They’ve been chronically underspending for decades and it has deteriorated their capabilities. And it’s understandble, times have been good and USA was a good strong partner. Things have unfortunately changed. What they need money now is modernization, new purchases, development, all sorts of things to actually make the military a respectable defence force.
You don’t fight a war with receipts.
Who are you supposed to fight a war to begin with?
Germany is not the only country in the world spending money on military pensions.
Gee I wonder who might be the threat here.
No but if they are spending a lot of money on it, by your logic they must have a a very capable military.