Possible warship delay compounds issues facing German military

By Andrea Shalal

REUTERS

 

German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen gives a statement to the media prior she faces the defence commission of the lower house of parliament Bundestag in Berlin, Germany May 10, 2017. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

 

BERLIN (Reuters) - The German defence ministry announced a possible delay in another big arms programme on Tuesday, marking a further setback for a military already faced with a probe into right-wing radicalism in its ranks.

 

State Secretary Ralf Brauksiepe told lawmakers it was unclear if a 1.5 billion-euro (1.29 billion pounds) purchase of five new military corvettes - spending added to the 2017 budget after delays in another multibillion-euro warship programme - could be presented to the budget committee before a general election in September.

 

The possible delay threatens to compound acquisition issues dogging the military as it tries to rebuild after years of post-Cold War spending cuts and prepare for added responsibilities.

 

Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen took office in late 2013 vowing to rebuild the military after 25 years of spending cuts, but her three biggest arms programmes have been delayed.

 

Her handling of the recent right-wing scandal has left some questioning the leadership skills of a woman once seen as a possible successor to Chancellor Angela Merkel.

 

It comes amid a crackdown on Nazi-era military memorabilia at military bases and criminal investigations launched after the arrest of two officers and a student believed to have been planning a major attack and then blaming it on migrants.

 

A third officer was later suspended from duties for making far-right comments.

 

"She's run aground on her own ambitions," said Greens lawmaker Tobias Lindner, a member of the budget committee.

 

Other programmes delayed in recent months include a 5 billion euro missile defence programme, a new drone and the multi-role MKS 180 warship.

 

Germany is supposed to be taking on added responsibilities within NATO and the European Union. It is also having trouble recruiting experts, particularly in the growing cyber sector.

 

Von der Leyen drew fire in recent weeks for blasting the military's "weak leadership" after it emerged that one of the arrested officers had been allowed to stay in the military despite writing a "clearly racist" master's thesis.

 

Merkel stood by von der Leyen after she apologised for the sweeping nature of her remarks, but her handling of the scandal raised eyebrows among other party members and has triggered frustration in the troops.

 

Lawmakers and some officers also chafe at what they see as von der Leyen's quest for publicity. "She's downgraded the visibility of the officers and it's all about her," said one military officer.

 

The German federal cartel office could decide on the corvette programme as early as Thursday, a spokesman said.

 

(With additional reporting by Sabine Siebold and Anneli Palmen; Editing by Tom Heneghan)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-05-17

Welcome to the left leaning ,liberal,socialist EU.

2 hours ago, sanukjim said:

Welcome to the left leaning ,liberal,socialist EU.

True, but did you not also read about Nazi memorabilia being found in many military institutions.

One of the few things I agreed with Trump pre election, was his promise to make so called allies pay for more of their own defence.

As all countries should do. Self defence should be taken for granted by any nation.

But it seems some nations, including Germany are quite happy to sacrifice their national identity.

I hope Germany ousts this weak leader. I also hope they do not fall back on former Nazi indoctrination.

von der leyon, looks like a make up dummy for Merkel. Her name shows her previous silver spoon ancestry. And does nothing to cover up her total incompetence.

If the German populace cannot realise the rot that Germany has become, Merkel and von der leyon should be held up as just how low Germany is sinking. 

2 hours ago, spiderorchid said:

True, but did you not also read about Nazi memorabilia being found in many military institutions.

One of the few things I agreed with Trump pre election, was his promise to make so called allies pay for more of their own defence.

As all countries should do. Self defence should be taken for granted by any nation.

But it seems some nations, including Germany are quite happy to sacrifice their national identity.

I hope Germany ousts this weak leader. I also hope they do not fall back on former Nazi indoctrination.

von der leyon, looks like a make up dummy for Merkel. Her name shows her previous silver spoon ancestry. And does nothing to cover up her total incompetence.

If the German populace cannot realise the rot that Germany has become, Merkel and von der leyon should be held up as just how low Germany is sinking. 

Too late already.

Are they going to pay their NATO share then.

I get confused with some of the characters on here

 

Germany's GDP is large. Are you sure you want them to rearm at THAT rate

 

Be careful what you wish for....

15 hours ago, spiderorchid said:

True, but did you not also read about Nazi memorabilia being found in many military institutions.

One of the few things I agreed with Trump pre election, was his promise to make so called allies pay for more of their own defence.

As all countries should do. Self defence should be taken for granted by any nation.

But it seems some nations, including Germany are quite happy to sacrifice their national identity.

I hope Germany ousts this weak leader. I also hope they do not fall back on former Nazi indoctrination.

von der leyon, looks like a make up dummy for Merkel. Her name shows her previous silver spoon ancestry. And does nothing to cover up her total incompetence.

If the German populace cannot realise the rot that Germany has become, Merkel and von der leyon should be held up as just how low Germany is sinking. 

You mean because of the disastrously prosperous state of the German economy? Their horribly excellent medical system?  The awful fact of universal free university education? Their hopelessly first-rate system of technical education? What a disaster!

Browsing Utube recently I became aware that the German military seemed to have rediscovered a taste for torchlit midnight ceremonies, in which serried ranks of soldiers wearing helmets and boots swear oaths of allegiance...

I don't know, but I do find it mildly disturbing. It seems a long way from the determinedly "civilian in uniform" image of the Bundeswehr I remember from the 70s and 80s.

4 hours ago, JAG said:

Browsing Utube recently I became aware that the German military seemed to have rediscovered a taste for torchlit midnight ceremonies, in which serried ranks of soldiers wearing helmets and boots swear oaths of allegiance...

I don't know, but I do find it mildly disturbing. It seems a long way from the determinedly "civilian in uniform" image of the Bundeswehr I remember from the 70s and 80s.

In the interest of clarity perhaps I should point out that they were wearing their uniforms as well as helmets and boots!

 

Else wise it would have been even more disturbing...

warship delay::germany ...........hmmmm