Boris Pistorius - Federal Minister of Defense of Germany - Speech at the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) of the Johns Hopkins University in Washington (May 9, 2024)
With geopolitical tensions rising around the globe, German Minister of Defense, Boris Pistorius, reaffirms Germany’s commitment to transatlantic security and international order.
As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine threatens European security and as autocratic leaders seek to undermine democracy, Germany is boosting its defense spending and its contributions to security in Europe and more broadly.
The war in Ukraine represents the most immediate and urgent threat to international order, German Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius said at a recent event at the Hopkins Bloomberg Center.
The NATO alliance is more than a military alliance; it represents a strong political bond between North America and Europe-one that is capable of meeting today’s challenges, the minister added.
"Putin’s illegal and inhumane war continues to bring unspeakable suffering to the Ukrainian people. This war is about much more than Russia and Ukraine. This war is about the question of whether we will allow an imperialist power to invade another sovereign state in Europe and annex territories in violation of international law, effectively taking away the freedom of its people."
"We have to show Putin that he will not get away with this. We have to show him that the strength of the law is mightier than the law of the strongest. I believe Russia's war in Ukraine is Europe’s most decisive challenge today. It is the most immediate and most urgent threat to the international order. Russia is, and for the foreseeable future will continue to be, the greatest threat to our common security."
"Today, Germany is the second largest contributor of military, financial and economic aid to Ukraine.
Russia’s historic breach of international law and their attack on the decade-long peace in Europe have led Germany to abandon long-held political reservations, especially regarding the supply of arms to war zones. If you will we are witnessing a complete change in zeitgeist.
Today, German main battle tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, howitzers, air defence systems and many more systems are used by Ukrainian soldiers to fight the Russian aggressor. We are delivering one quarter of our own PatriotPhased Array Tracking Radar to Intercept on Target systems to our Ukrainian friends. And we will not stop here."
"At the same time, we are aware that America's resources and attention cannot and will not be centred on Europe in the future. That is why we are working hard to make Europe’s contribution to transatlantic burden-sharing more relevant and why we have taken on more responsibility for the security of our continent."
"As I stand here in one of the most prestigious universities in the United States, my message to you is: We understand what is at stake. We cannot simply watch and wait as international law, our order and our values are being destroyed.
Together, we need to step in for the rules-based international order. And we cannot afford to fail, as there is too much at stake. This applies worldwide and especially to hotspots in Africa, the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific. And that applies in Ukraine."
"What does the Zeitenwende entail?
First: We are paying our share. This year, Germany will spend more on defence than ever before in the history of the Bundeswehr. We have launched significant new investments in military equipment and will increase our national defence spending to more than two percent of our GDP this year. And we will not stop there.
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We are spending money on vital assets and capabilities, for example to procure tanks, frigates, submarines, ammunition, deep-fire capabilities, F-35 fighter aircraft and CH-47F helicopters, and to strengthen the much-needed air defence. We have opened new production lines in Germany and are buying additional defence equipment, arms and ammunition in Europe as well as the U.S. With U.S. defence companies alone, we currently have around 380 contracts, with a total value of around 23 billion US dollars."
"Second: We are working very hard to prepare the Bundeswehr for today’s challenges. That includes restructuring our armed forces, as well as rethinking and improving the recruitment and retention process for our armed personnel."
"And third: We are committed to the security of our partners. We know: Collective security is what makes us strong. The security of our Allies is our security. Therefore, by next year, a majority of Bundeswehr troops will have been placed under NATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization command. And approximately 35,000 of those will be at the two highest readiness levels. Our special focus remains on defending our Allies at NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s eastern flank."
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29 сен 2024
