Defense Minister Pistorius sees "Air Defender" 2023 as a strengthening of the NATO alliance. But there is also criticism of the large-scale exercise.
Berlin – 10,000 soldiers, 250 aircraft, 25 nations: In a week's time, "Air Defender 2023", a major military maneuver in German airspace, is to begin. Defence Minister Boris Pistorius stressed on Monday (5 June) the military significance of the manoeuvre for Germany's security. "With Air Defender 2023 as the largest deployment exercise of air forces since NATO was founded, we are strengthening the alliance and transatlantic relations. Together with our allies, we are showing that we can defend the alliance territory quickly and effectively," said the SPD politician on the sidelines of a trip to Asia.
Air Denfender 2023 debate: Strack-Zimmermann welcomes upcoming NATO exercise
Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann (FDP) also emphasized the importance of the NATO exercise. Today, attacks on national territory are often carried out from the air. Germany "no longer had enough of these danger scenarios on its radar," the chairman of the Defense Committee in the Bundestag told the portal Web.de News. Military exercises such as "Air Defender" are always a signal to the other person: "You show what you can do," says Strack-Zimmermann.
At Wunstorf Air Base (Hanover region), some US aircraft have already arrived for the NATO exercise "Air Defender 23". © IMAGO/Droese
Criticism for the large-scale exercise of Left Party parliamentary group leader Dietmar Bartsch
The leader of the Left Party in the Bundestag, Dietmar Bartsch, on the other hand, criticised the imminent large-scale manoeuvre." Defense capability is imperative, but there is little 'defender' here, but a lot of sabre-rattling in the air," he told Web.de News. Bartsch called for a European peace initiative instead of new signals of a willingness to confront. Only this could pave the way "not to spend more and more billions on the rearmament of the Bundeswehr," said the 65-year-old left-wing politician.
Air Defender: NATO exercise already planned by the Bundeswehr since 2018
The Bundeswehr is hosting the "Air Defender 2023" maneuver, which will take place from June 12 to 23. The aim is to recreate a NATO Article 5 alliance case. From Monday to Friday, three large parts of German airspace will be alternately closed to civil air traffic.
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The main hub of the exercise is to be Wunstorf Air Base in Lower Saxony in the Hanover region. Groups such as the "Bremen Peace Forum" want to protest on June 10 against the planned maneuver. Germany had already launched the large-scale exercise five years ago.
Pistorius: Impact on the civilian population should be as low as possible
According to the Minister of Defence, the impact on the civilian population, for example in the form of noise and flight delays, should be kept as low as possible. "To this end, we have been coordinating very closely with all parties involved for months," Pistorius said. Flight cancellations are probably not to be expected, but delays are possible. (with dpa and AFP)
