The reform of the Bundeswehr consolidates the focus on national defense, and billions are being spent on this. But, above all, efficiency is needed.
Minister Boris Pistorius's goal: focus on national and alliance defense with a Bundeswehr prepared for war Photo: Michael Kappeler/dpa
No matter how often Boris Pistorius invokes “worthiness for war.” In the end, the Defense Minister will be judged by how the Bundeswehr is positioned and how well it handles the billions in recovery. That is why he initiated a structural reform, which is notable because it puts an end to the organizational obsession with foreign missions.
Significantly, Boris Pistorius says he wants to restructure the Bundeswehr so that it is in an optimal position for defense purposes. So it hasn't been like that yet, one can conclude. This was because the Bundeswehr had concentrated on nation-building as in Afghanistan and Mali, and not even successfully.
Both missions ended rather ignominiously: in Afghanistan the state collapsed when NATO and the Bundeswehr were away for only a day; In Mali, the Bundeswehr was expelled and replaced by Russian Wagner mercenaries. That created some disappointment. The need for repetition is low even among those who have always voted in favor of what is at stake. But what remained are dysfunctional structures in the Bundeswehr.
But these are by no means the only problem Pistorius has to solve. He boasts that he has increased the pace of acquisitions. But the real construction site is the costs. They are increasing and increasing and yet the weapons systems delivered are often faulty and faulty.
Secret information
Therefore, the report on the material operational readiness of the Bundeswehr has not been published in full for years. The Ministry of Defense writes that this would allow “concrete conclusions to be drawn about the current capabilities of the Bundeswehr.” And they probably wouldn't be all that flattering.
It's no secret how many tanks and fighter jets were purchased. All this can be seen in the press and in parliamentary documents. How many of them can actually drive and fly is kept secret, for several reasons. When they were still in opposition, the FDP and the Greens criticized him harshly. But the traffic light also remains confidential.
The interesting question now is: Can the Bundeswehr and defense companies become more efficient if defense spending increases year after year? And what happens if there is not the slightest incentive to save? Boris Pistorius has yet to provide evidence. Otherwise, the Bundeswehr could structurally become a bottomless pit.