The German army (Bundeswehr) is sending a harsh message to Vladimir Putin, according to Bild.
Air Force Inspector General Ingo Gerhartz warns Russian President against attacks on NATO: “Putin, do not put up with us!” The West will be significantly equipped, he stressed.
“By 2030, Europeans will have 600 modern fighter jets in the Baltic. In addition, there will be American aircraft,” Gerhartz told the Kiel International Maritime Force Symposium. Top army officers met there on Friday. Gerhartz is already counting the Finnish and Swedish air forces among them, although their involvement is still in jeopardy due to the Turkish blockade.
The general urged NATO states to also use nuclear weapons in the event of an emergency: “For a credible deterrence, we need both the means and the political will to implement nuclear deterrence, if necessary.”
Gerhartz received support from CDU / CSU MP and Vice President Johann David Wadephul (CDU).
The CDU MP calls for “the Bundeswehr to become the strongest conventional army in Europe”. At the same time, Wadephul referred to European unity: “There is no German policy for Russia, only European. There should be no German special path to Russia,” Wadephul said.
Nuclear deterrence was also discussed. “For a credible deterrence, we need both the means and the political will to implement nuclear deterrence, if necessary,” Gerhartz said, adding that he felt politicians now understood this beyond party lines.
Simply put: if necessary, Germany will also use US nuclear bombs stored in Germany, according to the same publication.
It is recalled that Germany recently announced that it will procure new F-35 stealth fighter aircraft. The planes will be used mainly for the continuation of nuclear sharing.
According to Bild, the US stores about 20 B61 nuclear bombs at the German air base in Bücheln. If there is a war, nuclear weapons will be delivered to the target by German pilots in the event of an emergency. Until now, Tornado multi-role fighter jets have been used for this role. However, these aircraft have been in service with troops since 1981 and now need urgent renewal.
Leading diplomat and head of the Munich Security Conference Christoph Heusgen (67) was also present. As the chancellor’s right-hand man, she was considered Merkel’s whisperer and in Kiel she was unusually honest about being a top diplomat.
Heusgen did not have a good word to say about Putin’s confidant and former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev (56): “Medvedev is a clown today, I’m sorry to say that.”
