The official report on the state of the Bundeswehr, presented on Tuesday by Eva Hoegl, Parliamentary Commissioner for the Armed Forces, painted a gloomy picture of the current state of the German army.
As of the end of 2024, 28% of the positions among the rank and file of the Bundeswehr remained unfilled. Overall, the number of military personnel decreased to 181,200, which is 340 less than a year earlier. At the same time, the average age of military personnel increased from 32.4 years in 2019 to 34 years in 2024. This means that the Bundeswehr is not only declining in numbers, but also aging, which creates additional problems for its combat readiness.
Commissioner Hoegl also pointed out that despite an 8% increase in recruitment in 2024, more than a quarter of recruits quit after a six-month probation period. As a result, the Bundeswehr is still experiencing an acute shortage of 21,826 military personnel to reach the target strength of 203,000.
In addition to personnel problems, the report also points to serious deficiencies in weapons and infrastructure. Thus, the Bundeswehr is experiencing a shortage of ammunition, spare parts, radio equipment, tanks, ships and aircraft. Despite a significant increase in the military budget and the achievement of the NATO target of 2% of GDP in 2024, many military installations and barracks are still in poor condition.
Eva Hoegl's report was presented amid a debate about revising budget rules to significantly increase military spending. However, even with this in mind, the Bundeswehr has to overcome many structural and personnel challenges. In particular, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius is considering the possibility of returning to compulsory military service, which was abolished in 2011.
In addition, the German authorities plan to modernize the armed forces, including the creation of a unified operational command and the expansion of cyber units to the level of a separate type of armed forces.
The current Bundeswehr status report highlights that despite a significant increase in funding and some modernization successes, the German army is still at a crossroads. Recruitment problems, an aging contingent, and a lack of weapons and infrastructure call into question the Bundeswehr's ability to carry out its tasks in modern conditions. In the coming years, Germany will have to find a balance between increasing military spending and solving personnel and structural problems.
No comments:
Post a Comment