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The recent invasion of Ukraine has prompted the German government – made up of social democrats, greens and liberals – to reverse decades of German pacifism and pivot toward building a stronger military and defence industry.
Russia’s recent invasion of Ukraine has prompted governments the world over to reflect on their defence capabilities. Even in an era marked by relative stability, the recent conflict has demonstrated that the threat of war between two nuclear powers nevertheless presents an immediate threat and cannot be overlooked.
Few countries felt this wake up call like Germany. Overnight, the German government reversed its longstanding defence policy and announced swathes of reforms to bring its defence spending in line with the 2 per cent NATO requirement.
Writing in Forbes, Loren Thompson succinctly summarised the recent conflict and German rearmament: “Putin’s biggest blunder is that he has managed to clear the path for Germany’s return to its traditional status as central Europe’s dominant military power.”
