Germany’s Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has emphasized the need for Europe to prepare to face new military threats, stating that European countries have 5-8 years to strengthen their defense capabilities.
Pistorius added, “We have 5-8 years to make up for the deficiencies in the armed forces, industry, and society.”
He stressed that Europe could face new military challenges by the end of this decade, especially with the United States shifting its focus to the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
Furthermore, Pistorius suggested that Europe might have to increase its assistance to Ukraine instead of relying on the United States if Washington does not allocate new funds to support the Ukrainian government’s needs.
“We Europeans must take on more responsibilities to ensure security in our continent,” he added.
Pistorius also mentioned the formation of a new Polish government, which he believes should encourage countries like the Visegrád Group (Germany, Poland, and France) to enhance their defense cooperation. The German Defense Minister expressed his desire to visit Poland next year.
Regarding the participation of the German military in foreign missions, Pistorius noted that it is too early to discuss operations like those in Afghanistan and Mali.
