cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/27602242

Germany’s military, the Bundeswehr, recently got the all-clear for a massive increase in investment after parliament voted to exempt defence spending from strict rules on debt.

The country’s top general has told the BBC the cash boost is urgently needed because he believes Russian aggression won’t stop at Ukraine.

“We are threatened by Russia. We are threatened by Putin. We have to do whatever is needed to deter that,” Gen Carsten Breuer says. He warns that Nato should be braced for a possible attack in as little as four years.

“It’s not about how much time I need, it’s much more about how much time Putin gives us to be prepared,” the defence chief says bluntly. “And the sooner we are prepared the better.”

      • FireRetardant@lemmy.world
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        3 days ago

        A history of invading your neighbours is quite a bit different than wanting to defend your existing, peacefully held territory.

        • Viking_Hippie@lemmy.dbzer0.comOP
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          3 days ago

          True, thus why the headline is unfortunate to the point of looking like satire despite the content of the article being mostly uncontroversial.

          AfD not withstanding, today’s Germany is EXTREMELY different from Nazi Germany and everyone reasonable would agree, but it’s still the first thing that pops into your head when someone says “German military history” 🤷

          • TXL@sopuli.xyz
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            2 days ago

            Well it’s too late to start a world war this time, since Putin already beat them to it.