26.09.2024 – Translated from German via Google and OFP
Germany’s Defense Minister speaks to the parliament in Lithuania. Pistorius names dangers – and makes a promise to the NATO partner.
Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius warned in a speech before the Lithuanian parliament of the dangers posed by Russia’s rearmament. “We are seeing how Russia is rapidly ramping up its weapons production and dramatically building up its armed forces. All of this leaves no doubt: for Russia, (Vladimir) Putin’s Russia, Ukraine is only the beginning,” said the SPD politician in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius.
At the same time, the leadership in Moscow is trying to undermine social cohesion in the EU and NATO states and is using hybrid means – i.e. disruptive methods and cyberattacks. For Russian President Putin, the real enemy is the free and democratic way of life. “Ukraine was a wake-up call, perhaps the last one we will get,” said Pistorius, whose speech was applauded in several places.
Combat-ready brigade to be in place by 2027
The German government has promised its NATO partner Lithuania that it will permanently station a combat-ready and independently capable combat unit in Lithuania. This brigade is to be operational by 2027. The step is a reaction to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and takes into account the changed security situation in Europe.
A permanent presence of up to 5,000 soldiers is planned, with their permanent bases in Rudninkai and Rukla. Initially, an interim solution will be set up in Lithuanian barracks near the capital Vilnius. There have been repeated doubts as to whether Lithuania is on schedule with its own preparations.
The new army unit in Lithuania will be set up as Panzer Brigade 45. On Monday, the designated new commander, Brigadier General Christoph Huber, took up his post in the NATO country. He leads a formation staff and is to complete preparations for stationing the Panzer Brigade in the first half of 2025. Next year, around 500 German soldiers are to be in Lithuania. Pistorius welcomed the Brigadier General in Parliament on Thursday.
Russia continues to build up its armed forces
In mid-September, Putin increased the size of his armed forces for the third time since the start of the war of aggression against Ukraine that he ordered. A presidential decree stated that the number of military personnel would be 2.389 million from December, including 1.5 million soldiers.
Only in December last year, Putin increased the target troop strength of the armed forces to 2.2 million people, including 1.33 million soldiers. At the start of the war in 2022, the number of soldiers in Russia was just over a million.
Military aid for Ukraine is in Germany’s national interest
In his speech in Vilnius, Pistorius assured that Germany would continue to provide military support to Ukraine. “This is in our national interest and a matter that is important to me personally,” he said.
In Lithuania, German soldiers would soon be standing “shoulder to shoulder with the Lithuanian armed forces, ready to defend the country.” Pistorius spoke of an “unwavering commitment” and said: “Your security is our security. Your freedom is our freedom.”
He also assured: “The German armed forces are ready to become a central pillar of conventional deterrence and defense in Europe.” He also mentioned the role as a hub in order to be able to quickly move troops from the Atlantic to the eastern flank.
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“Germany must introduce a new form of military service. Only then can the armed forces survive in the event of war.”
Boris Pistorius, Minister of Defence
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He also says he is working determinedly to permanently increase German defense spending above two percent of gross domestic product – the NATO target. All NATO partners would have to contribute more than the two percent.
He also discussed his plans to introduce a new military service model in Germany. Times have changed. “Germany must introduce a new form of military service. Only then can the armed forces survive in the event of war,” said Pistorius.
Lithuania borders on Belarus, which is allied with Russia, and on Russia’s Baltic Sea enclave of Kaliningrad, the former East Prussian Königsberg. Between the two countries, a narrow land corridor runs west from Lithuania to Poland – the so-called Suwalki Gap. It is assumed that fighting could break out over the land passage in the event of an attack. The Lithuanians see the German troop stationing as a reassurance of the NATO commitment to assistance.
Elections will take place in Lithuania in October
Lithuania will elect a new parliament in the autumn. The first round of voting will take place on October 13, the second round two weeks later. Polls recently indicated a possible change of government – but many Lithuanians were still undecided.
Regardless of the outcome of the election, Lithuania is likely to remain firmly in line with the EU and NATO in terms of foreign and security policy and to maintain its determined support for Ukraine. (dpa/edited by mbo)
https://web.de/magazine/politik/russland-krieg-ukraine/pistorius-russland-ukraine-anfang-40168938
Incontestably, Boris Pistorius would be a far better chancellor of Germany, for both Germany and Ukraine, than Olaf Scholz, despite Pistorius being a member of Scholz’s SPD. He has been more hawkish than Scholz, who, like Biden, is far too afraid of mafia land and thus poses a danger to Ukraine and the continent’s security.
However, it’s unlikely that Mr. Pistoruis will become chancellor because Scholz wants to run again for this position. With Scholz, there is no chance that the SPD will be in a position to rule the country again because he is very unpopular.
As we see in the little poll at the bottom of the article, most Germans agree to let Ukraine use German weapons on mafia soil. This is more or less like other polls in the country.