Vladimir Putin cannot be trusted. That is the opinion of German generals who face a possible Russian attack every day.
As the Trump administration continues to pursue a deal to end the war in Ukraine – a deal that could end up being more favorable to Moscow than Kiev – the Europeans, for the first time in decades, are focusing on their military might.
Nowhere is this change more evident than in Germany. Its armed forces, known as the Bundeswehr, have been the victim of years of underinvestment, but that is set to change.
Presumptive Chancellor Friedrich Merz has decided that now is the time for Germany to invest in its military, at levels not seen since the Cold War. Germany has just passed a major reform of its constitutional debt curbs, unlocking billions of euros in funding. According to a first report by CNN, over a 10-year period, with Germany spending 3.5% of GDP, it could reach 600 billion euros.
Germany is currently holding military exercises at an undisclosed location in central Germany. It is joined by five NATO allies. Speaking at the makeshift headquarters for the exercise, General Hammerstein told CNN: "Germany is a capable nation in Europe and must be a partner for other nations. We are a responsible partner in Europe and a great nation. We (must) grow up and we will do that," he said.
The full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 was a seismic moment for the continent. War was back, and the détente that had existed since the fall of the Iron Curtain was over. Olaf Scholz, the outgoing chancellor, said the country needed a new defense and security policy – and that the Bundeswehr needed special attention. He created a single 100 billion euro fund for “comprehensive investments” in the Bundeswehr. To do this, Scholz had to change the Basic Law – essentially, the country’s constitution. (A2 Televizion)
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