Monday, March 14, 2022

Germans Now Doing What Trump Was Condemned For Asking Them To Do

In the face of Russian aggression, Germany is finally going to start spening on revitalizing it's military so it can begin honoring its NATO defense commitments.

The Detroit News: Germany to buy US-made F-35s to replace aging bombers

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced last month that the country would create a special fund of 100 billion euros ($113 billion) to bolster its armed forces and raise defense spending above 2% of gross domestic product, a measure on which it had long lagged behind other NATO countries on.

Better late than never, I suppose.

They're also going to buy some F-35s to replace their aging Tornados.

Of course the Left in Germany really hates the fact that Germany might have a credible air force again and most especially that an F-35 could potentially carry a nuclear weapon:

“We reject arming the Bundeswehr with new, nuclear-capable combat jets,” said Ali Al-Dailami, the [Left] party’s deputy defense spokesman. He warned that equipping German pilots to drop U.S. atomic bombs could “fuel the risk of nuclear war in Europe.”  

I hate to break it to the Left, but the Tornado, the plane the F-35 will be replacing, was also fully capable of carrying out a nuclear mission so this changes nothing potential nuclear capabilities-wise.  

Interestingly, Germany had previously said no to the F35 as too expensive and they didn't want to increase their defense spending, but Putin's invasion is making them pick a capable aircraft to replace their obsolescent fleet.

I don't believe in any case that anyone will be giving the Luftwaffe nukes anytime soon, but they do need to have a functioning air force again if they want to have any role in NATO at all.

Nice to see Trump being vindicated about Germany needing to spend more on its own defense.  I'm sure his critics will apologize for criticizing his requests that Germany do so any day now.  Really, any day at all.

1 comment:

Glenn B said...

Hopefully you are right in saying better late than never. I hope it has not reached the point where late equals never as in not soon enough to matter.