German Military Said to Take More Assertive Role in Shift
- ‘White paper’ draft offers rationale for more spending, troops
- Russian threat cited in first security revamp in a decade
Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen inspects a new Puma light tank during the official handover ceremony of the tank to the German armed forces, the Bundeswehr, in Unterluess on June 24, 2015 near Uelzen, Germany. The Puma is produced by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) and Rheinmetall-Landsysteme (RLS) and is the successor to the Marder light tank. Critics highlight the tank's weight (over 30 tons) and high cost of over EUR 8 million a piece. The Bundeswehr is scheduled to purchase 350 Pumas.
Photographer: Alexander Koerner/Getty ImagesGermany will take on greater military leadership in global conflicts, requiring a sustained increase in defense spending and troop strength, according to plans for the nation’s first overhaul of security policy in a decade.
A “renaissance of classic power politics” is increasing “the risk of violent conflict between states, including in Europe and its neighborhood, as the example of Russia’s actions in Ukraine demonstrate,” according to a draft document by Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government obtained by Bloomberg. Merkel’s cabinet is expected to discuss the so-called white paper at its weekly meeting on Wednesday, just days after she and fellow NATO leaders including President Barack Obama met at the alliance’s summit in Poland.