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/

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

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

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.

19 minutes ago, RayC said:

 

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.

 

It is the nature of a uncertai future with lack of resources. The Europe we have experienced post world war 2 haven’t happened often in the History, and usually comes after exhausting wars, where there is no other options. Now you see the egos grows again, especially considering the biggest ally is lead by an unstable man and government 

41 minutes ago, Hummin said:

 

It is the nature of a uncertai future with lack of resources. The Europe we have experienced post world war 2 haven’t happened often in the History, and usually comes after exhausting wars, where there is no other options. Now you see the egos grows again, especially considering the biggest ally is lead by an unstable man and government 

 

I agree that the Post-WW2 period of peace in Europe was the exception rather than the norm. I also agree that it appears that Europe apparently cannot count on the US to safeguard its' security as it has done.

 

However, I appear to be more optimistic than you. The EU is not perfect by a long stretch, but it has managed to function for more than 60 years with some notable achievements such as the Single Market, Customs Union, etc.  Egos were put aside for the common good in these cases; hopefully, they will be in this case.

7 minutes ago, RayC said:

 

I agree that the Post-WW2 period of peace in Europe was the exception rather than the norm. I also agree that it appears that Europe apparently cannot count on the US to safeguard its' security as it has done.

 

However, I appear to be more optimistic than you. The EU is not perfect by a long stretch, but it has managed to function for more than 60 years with some notable achievements such as the Single Market, Customs Union, etc.  Egos were put aside for the common good in these cases; hopefully, they will be in this case.

 

I agree, but we do have been bombarded with emigrants from mostly Islamic cultures with good help from post colonism, war on terror and also the Russian attempts as well to interrupt and flood our border's with conflicting religions and world views. 

 

I think we have just started to see the end results of it, but maybe not for another two three decades maybe before.

Germany rearming

What could possibly go wrong?

3 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Germany rearming

What could possibly go wrong?

 

 

I think it will be fine.....as long as we don't mention the war.

4 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Germany rearming

What could possibly go wrong?

Just what I was thinking. They have a successful track record wrt military build-ups, so I'm optimistic. The EU's planned raid of idle cash in bank accounts will fund it too.

9 minutes ago, Hummin said:

 

I agree, but we do have been bombarded with emigrants from mostly Islamic cultures with good help from post colonism, war on terror and also the Russian attempts as well to interrupt and flood our border's with conflicting religions and world views. 

 

I think we have just started to see the end results of it, but maybe not for another two three decades maybe before.

 

Many European countries (Belgium, France, the UK, etc.) have had a significant Muslim minority population for decades.

 

Members of these minorities integrated into their host societies to varying degrees, however, only a very few individuals were openly hostile and sought to change the culture of their hosts. That is no longer the case.

 

There are certainly more Muslins in Europe than there used to be but, in itself, that doesn't explain the radicalisation of the European Muslim population. Also although Muslims form a much smaller proportion of the population in the US than they do in many European countries, in absolute terms the numbers are similar but the US does not appear to suffer greatly from 'cultural conflict'. 

 

Which begs two questions: 1) What has caused radical Islamism to increase in Europe and 2) why hasn't this occurred in the US to the same degree? 

 

(These are genuine questions. I don't have any answers or theories).

31 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

 

 

I think it will be fine.....as long as we don't mention the war.

 

Which one? WW1 or II, the regular Franco-German dust-ups ...

 

Oh, b*****s🤦

Well we all know what happened last time Germany increased military spending then went on the rampage, lets face it no point in spending billions on arms if you are not going to use them

17 minutes ago, RayC said:

 

Which one? WW1 or II, the regular Franco-German dust-ups ...

 

Oh, b*****s🤦

 

 

Hmmmmm.....you obviously are bereft of Fawlty Towers humour......sad

1 hour ago, howerde said:

Well we all know what happened last time Germany increased military spending then went on the rampage, lets face it no point in spending billions on arms if you are not going to use them

There have been many fractions of power throughout the time, and there is always one accelerator who changes the dynamics. Just wait to Turkey starts to move again. Every old powers, have the potential to change the future, and they got in their blood. Nationalism isn’t something that just disappears 

1 hour ago, Will B Good said:

 

 

Hmmmmm.....you obviously are bereft of Fawlty Towers humour......sad

 

Didn't mind it but a bit dated now.

 

Clearly my attempt at humour didn't impress you.

6 hours ago, Hummin said:

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

There's more common interest than rivalry. In particular, a strong German army is in the interest of France, as it is an obvious buffer against Russian threats. De Gaulle understood that perfectly when he withdrew from the united Nato command and repositioned French troops in Germany near the French border.

Germany needs to rearm, Poland is far too powerful militarily now. 

 

When will Poland return the annexed German territories? Danzig, East Prussia? Galicia? Breslau?

 

For too long Poland has  enjoyed its ill-gotten gains. 

 

Poland!

 

Give back the land you stole!

1 hour ago, candide said:

There's more common interest than rivalry. In particular, a strong German army is in the interest of France, as it is an obvious buffer against Russian threats. De Gaulle understood that perfectly when he withdrew from the united Nato command and repositioned French troops in Germany near the French border.

 

I do not disagree, but the nature of internal as well external influence when the economics stagnates, and even worse, unemployment and old ideologies turn in to new poison. 

 

You see how common sense have turned sour in the World most powerful economy and also the most powerful army in History.