Germany wants to be Europe’s military power.

[CatCage]

Germany wants to be Europe’s military power. China could get in the way.

 

BERLIN — Friedrich Merz wants to turn Germany into Europe’s leading military power. But China still holds the reins thanks to its control of critical minerals needed by Europe's defense industry.

 

"If China-sourced materials suddenly fall away,  that could stop our defense industrial plans in their tracks," warned Jakob Kullik, a researcher at Chemnitz University of Technology and an expert on rare earth policy.

 

The German chancellor’s plan to make his country’s armed forces "the strongest conventional army in Europe" comes with an unprecedented price tag. Berlin has pledged to spend hundreds of billions on defense through 2029, shattering decades of fiscal restraint. 

 

A good portion of that money is already in motion. Orders for military vehicles are running into four digits, missile production is ramping up and demand for ammunition is rising fast. 

 

More:

https://www.politico.eu/article/china-paralyze-germanys-defense-friedrich-merz-critical-minerals/

[Hummin]

I do believe Franch and UK wants the same, and the race is on

[Peter Crow]

Cooperating with China would be a lot safer than giving BJs to TACO.

[RayC]

1 hour ago, Hummin said:

I do believe Franch and UK wants the same, and the race is on

 

If France, Germany and the UK compete with each other on defence matters resources will be wasted.

 

Co-operation, not competition, should be the aim here.