As of: February 3, 2024, 5:05 a.m
By: Jens Kiffmeier
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Split
Rejects the delivery of Taurus cruise missiles: Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD).
© Kay Nietfeld/dpa
He remains steadfast: Boris Pistorius (SPD) insists on saying no to the Taurus delivery – despite pressure from his coalition partners.
But does the Bundeswehr need the weapons?
Berlin – The Greens want to deliver, as do the CDU and FDP.
But the SPD is standing in the way.
Despite the growing pressure in the dispute over the provision of Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) stands by his no.
In the Bundestag he strictly rejected the demands of the opposition and coalition partners and appeared annoyed.
The SPD politician said he was “tired” of the ongoing debate during the budget discussions in the Bundestag.
Although Germany is Ukraine's second-largest supporter, the only discussion is about a special weapons system - "as if it were a matter of whether we deliver everything we can or whether we also take a bit of freedom and responsibility for ourselves in making this decision meet".
Dispute over Taurus: Pistorius continues to refuse delivery of the cruise missiles – because of the range
The Taurus is one of the Air Force's most modern missiles and can destroy targets such as a bunker complex, even from great heights and distances.
However, at the beginning of October, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) decided not to deliver this weapon to Ukraine for the time being.
Defense Minister Pistorius supports this stance.
The fear behind this is that because of the range of 500 kilometers, Russian territory could be hit with German weapons and that Germany would be drawn into the conflict.
In contrast to Scholz, the Greens and the FDP are pushing for the delivery of these cruise missiles.
According to reports, both factions would like to include the demand for Taurus release in a joint traffic light motion on Ukraine, which the Bundestag is expected to pass in February.
The CDU/CSU parliamentary group warns the coalition against backing away from this plan: “Anyone who purses their mouths must whistle,” warned Union faction vice-president Johann Wadephul (CDU).
“If you are serious about Ukraine, then it must be decided here in the German Bundestag.”
Last week the SPD proposed a compromise.
Apparently the possibility of organizing a ring exchange is being considered.
Great Britain is to receive new Taurus missiles from the Bundeswehr - and in return they will hand over the older Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine.
But that’s not enough for the Greens and FDP.
In an interview with IPPEN.MEDIA,
defense expert Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann pointed out
that this would not give Ukraine enough clout.
Pistorius’ mantra: The Bundeswehr should become “war-ready” – experts see room for improvement
But from Pistorius's point of view, the weapons aid for Ukraine is definitely limited.
He had already pointed out weeks ago that the Bundeswehr would have to become “war-ready” again after years of austerity measures.
Despite all legitimate demands for arms deliveries to Ukraine, one should not lose sight of the fact that the German armed forces would further lose their own defense capability.
In addition to ammunition, Germany has also delivered various Leopard tanks and missile defense systems in recent years, which will then have to be procured again in the coming years.
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But the procurement of equipment and materials in particular is causing enormous problems for the Bundeswehr.
Although the federal government is pumping a special fund into the troops, some military observers believe that its use is rather slow.
In view of the growing threat of war on NATO's eastern flank, they are calling for more speed.
“One thing is certain: there is still plenty of room for improvement in the Bundeswehr in all four areas – structures, armaments, personnel and mindset.
And we have not seen any fundamental reforms so far,” criticizes Sönke Neitzel, military historian at the University of Potsdam, in an interview with the
Editorial Network Germany
(RND).
Pistorius' promise of war capability is important, but the Bundeswehr also has to do its homework.
Unfortunately, it can no longer be ruled out that the German armed forces may still have to fight in the next few years as part of NATO alliance defense.
(
jkf
/with material from
dpa
)