Berlin.
The disastrous state of the Bundeswehr and now a bizarre video: Defense Minister Lambrecht becomes a risk for Chancellor Scholz.
Sometimes you can in all Publicity see how lonely it gets around a politician. This is the case again these days. Secretary of Defense Christine Lambrecht, who is still visibly alienated from her job after a year in office, took on another one at the turn of the year embarrassment accomplished: While the firecrackers exploded in Berlin at night and the New Year’s rockets rose into the sky, she wrote a New Year’s message she wrote herself, with tousled hair, about the war in Ukraine and the many great encounters she had in connection with it.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz does not want to comment on this, so he does not want to support his minister and SPD comrade either. There is also an embarrassed silence in the coalition. More distance is hardly possible.
Lambrecht: Defense Minister does not have the shop under control
It is time to ask the question of how Germany is portrayed with this Defense Minister. The office is one of the most important of all. It is critical to the safety of the federal republic and the country’s position on the international stage. Given the proclaimed by the Chancellor “turning point” this is always the case in foreign policy.
The allies in NATO and the EU must be able to rely on Germany at all times: They need a contact person in the Berlin Ministry of Defense who is passionate about his job and has his shop under control. You are just like Germany rely on the Bundeswehr being able to fulfill its national and alliance defense tasks at all times. And yes: Germany and its partners also need someone who masters a public appearance, which one European leadership is appropriate.
All of this obviously does not apply to Lambrecht. It’s not just about the bizarre New Year’s Eve video. the armed forces is still in a deplorable state. A number of previous governments – almost always with SPD participation – have neglected the armed forces for decades. However, there is still no sign of any improvements. And that despite the 100 billion euros special fundwhich the Bundestag decided under the impression of the Russian attack on Ukraine.
Lambrecht becomes a burden for Olaf Scholz
Just recently, 18 of 18 Puma armored personnel carriers deployed failed during a Bundeswehr exercise. They were therefore not available for the NATO Rapid Reaction Force. In the meantime, the devices should have been largely repaired. The procurement of armed forces still remains a nightmare. The soldiers not only lack ammunition and functioning vehicles, but sometimes even warm socks.
Foreign partners repeatedly criticize that Germany is far too slow and far too hesitant to weapons shipments to Ukraine. That also falls back on the minister. Actually, all NATO countries should spend two percent of their economic output on defense. The Federal Republic remains far from it. A debate is just beginning in NATO about tightening the requirements. It is hard to imagine that the Secretary of Defense will be able to contribute effectively to the discussion.
In the long run, the chancellor will not be able to accept the work of his defense minister. Olaf Scholz is still looking for his own role in international relations. The longer he sticks with Lambrecht, the harder it will be to find them.
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