Germany appoints new defense minister, faces pressure to send tanks to Ukraine |
BERLIN, 17 january (Reuters) – of Ukraine Russia The German government appointed Boris Pistorius as its defense minister on Tuesday, amid increasing pressure on Berlin from its Western allies to allow it to use German-made tanks in the war.
After several missteps, Christine Lambrecht resigned as defense minister on Monday, in Ramstein on Friday USA military base before a conference on Western plans to supply Kiev with more weapons.
Germany has so far been cautious about approving the deployment of heavy Leopard tanks, as such a move could be seen as an escalation of the war. Other countries with such tanks also need Berlin’s approval before they can be transferred to another country.
Economy Minister Robert Habek from the Green Party said, “There are important decisions to be made in the short term, especially of Ukraine “There is an urgent question about how we will be supported in the right of self-defense,” he said.
“Germany has a responsibility here and has great tasks to fulfill,” he said.
The new defense minister is expected to receive his American counterpart Lloyd Austin in Berlin on Thursday.
In the early 1980s military 62-year-old Pistorius, who has completed his service, has been in Lower Saxony since 2013 interior minister and worked in this position in the armed forces.
Like Chancellor Olaf Scholz, he in 2019 Social He ran for the leadership of the Democratic Party (SPD) – both lost – and is known for his tough stance on security issues.
In a brief statement before his official appointment on Thursday, Pistorius said he knew the importance of the task before him. “I want the armed forces to be strong for the coming period,” he said.
Scholz described him as a friend and a good politician.
“He is a person with a great deal of experience in security policy, who has worked openly and closely with the Bundeswehr in his previous role, and who has the strength and composure needed for such a big job,” he said.
Pistorius had an affair with Doris Schröder-Kopf, ex-wife of former chancellor Gerhard Schröder.
Schroeder Russia due to his close relations with President Vladimir Putin, he has been severely criticized in Germany and abroad. Pistorius is also the German-Russia of a friendship group April was a member before his release in
However, he publicly condemned what he called Russia’s “brutal attacks” against Ukraine. In May, he said that Russian sympathizers should not be praising the war in the streets of Germany.
“End of World War II, Allied victory and Europe free It is intolerable to connect the illegal occupation war against Ukraine.
The incoming minister hastily agreed after Russia’s aggression against Ukraine 100 billion euro (108 billion dollars) takes over at a crucial time, overseeing the improvement of Germany’s armed forces with a special fund.
After decades of underinvestment military focus is on German equipment, including Puma infantry tanks, which were decommissioned after training problems were discovered. Scholz signaled a policy shift by pledging to increase defense spending to more than 2% of economic output.
Added by Rachel More reportwritten by Madeline Chambers, edited by Miranda Murray, Kirsti Knolle and Angus MacSwan
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2023-01-18 04:48:12
Source – reuters
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