Press
In the midst of the traffic light debates about the 2025 budget, Pistorius reveals weaknesses in the Bundeswehr’s equipment. Delays in the procurement of combat clothing raise questions.
Berlin – In recent weeks, Federal Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius repeatedly discussed because of the traffic light dispute over the 2025 budget. The SPD politician had always stressed that the Debt brake should not stand in the way of necessary security spendingBut while Pistorius is arguing with Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) about a higher defense budget, a document shows that the Defense Minister had to admit mistakes to the Budget Committee.
In 2021, it was decided that all active soldiers in the armed forces receive new personal equipment and clothing by 2025. Modernised vests, helmets and backpacks should be procured more quickly in order to improve the defence and alliance capabilities of the Bundeswehr, especially with regard to the Ukraine War The goal: full equipment. But how the PICTURE According to what we have now learned, the Bundeswehr will still be lacking important clothing and equipment in 2024. Pistorius is said to have admitted this to the Budget Committee.
Pistouris has clearly missed its 2023 purchasing targets: Bundeswehr has too little protective and carrying equipment
Every six months, the Ministry of Defence must present how far the Bundeswehr has progressed with the orders for full equipment. A new report, which PICTURE should now show that the purchasing targets were clearly missed in 2023. As an example, the PICTURE Information on ballistic protection and carrying equipment such as protective vests. Instead of the 105,000 equipment systems ordered, only 81,000 arrived. The reason for the delay was illness at the supplier. Pistorius is said to have Bundeswehr modernization projects already completely canceled have.
According to the report, Pistorius also had to admit to mishaps and delays with combat clothing: 72,200 sets of clothing had been agreed for 2023, but the ministry was only able to show 58,850 in the report. The reason was that the Bundeswehr’s supplier had gone bankrupt. The situation is apparently similar with helmets and modern backpacks – here too, the budget committee’s specifications were only met by 76 to 80 percent.
Glitch in the middle of the budget committee debacle: Pistorius sticks to the goals of fully equipping the Bundeswehr
But despite the missed targets for 2023, the SPD politician, who was ahead of Chancellor Olaf Scholz in some polls, seems positive: Everything that was not delivered last year is to be received by the Bundeswehr in 2024. The Defense Minister remains committed to the goal of achieving full equipment for all active soldiers by 2025. IPPEN.MEDIA has asked the Ministry of Defense for a comment, but has not received a response by the time of publication.
Will this glitch before the budget committee cause Pistorius’ image to crumble? Since taking office as Minister of Defense, the politician has been increasingly referred to as the “reserve chancellor.” But expensive radio problems in the Bundeswehr and rumors that the Minister wants to quithave recently made headlines. Also because Pistorius repeatedly encounters resistance in the traffic light coalition when it comes to the federal budget for 2025. There he is said to have demanded 6.7 billion more for the defense budget. Lindner (FDP) initially rejected the demand.
More money for the Bundeswehr? Pistorius finds allies outside the traffic light coalition
Pistorius is receiving support for his initiative from the opposition. For example, Union defense expert Florian Hahn said: “I expect that Federal Minister Pistorius, who seems to be the only one in this government to have recognized the urgency of the situation, will finally get the funds for the Bundeswehr, which it needs more urgently than ever.” (dpa/nbe)
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