Germany Wants More Weapons

Germany is negotiating with several defense companies to construct a multilayered antimissile defense system with an estimated cost of up to €17 billion (us$18.5 billion), according to sources referenced by Bloomberg on February 1. Germany’s new defense minister, Boris Pistorius, also announced pressure on the German government to quickly order new tanks.

New urgency: While visiting the tank battalion that is set to send 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, Pistorius said: “For me, the crucial fact is that we have to order new tanks, not in a year, but swiftly, so that production can begin.” Asked how the German government would fund the project, Pistorius said, “Frankly, I don’t care. It is essential that we can provide them quickly.”

• On January 27, he told Süddeutsche Zeitung that the €100 billion ($108 billion) fund is too little to cover Germany’s needs.
• Germany’s stated goal is to become the most powerful military force on the Continent.

A trend to watch: Germany produced hundreds of tanks during the Cold War. But in recent years, it has dialed down production. Now it wants modern tanks for its army. The Trumpet watches Germany’s militarization closely. Pistorius could speed up Germany’s hitherto-lacking rearmament. These developments are a direct result of the war in Ukraine. To learn more, read “Ukraine Is Hastening a New Germany.”