Germany finally rejoined the West after its post-Cold War Holiday from History.
I've spent a lot of time trying to hit Germany with the clue bat over their frustrating refusal to pull their weight in the defense of the West:
Stop us before we rampage across Europe again? Are you effing kidding me? That's your excuse? After over 70 years of not being Nazis you are claiming that under the veneer of democracy you are just a bunch of barely restrained thugs eager to rampage around Europe? Really?
Germany's military became a joke. Civil servants in uniform. And darned few of them.
But then Russia invaded Ukraine in a brazen act of aggression. And after initially trying to maintain its former policies, changed: "Germany has dropped its block on the delivery of German-made lethal weapons to Ukraine via third countries." The Netherlands will be able to send German-made anti-tank rockets to Ukraine.
And then Germany decided to directly send anti-air and anti-tank weapons.
And then ... wow!
Germany signalled a U-turn in key energy policies on Sunday, floating the possibility of extending the life-spans of coal and even nuclear plants to cut dependency on Russian gas, part of a broad political rethink following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
Germany even decided to build infrastructure to import non-Russian natural gas by sea.
And then ... Germany has vowed to spend 2% of GDP on defense:
Germany will channel 100 billion euros ($113 billion) this year into a fund to modernize the military, Scholz said Sunday in a speech to a special session of the lower house of parliament. By 2024, the government will spend at least 2% of gross domestic product each year on defense, he added, in line with a NATO target that Berlin has consistently failed to meet.
Plus extra money for modernization. Good.
Remember, Germany had once said there was no way it would meet the pledge by 2024. But it's a start. And a big effing deal. Especially when you consider the extra money for modernization.
The Germans are even talking about restoring conscription. Which if at least for two years of active service would do some good. But restoring what they already have to fighting shape is a higher priority for now.
Putin's invasion of Ukraine was the clue bat Germany needed
Germany's 2014 pledge to NATO and even Trump's public hectoring failed to get Germany to rearm from the Holiday from History after NATO won the Cold War.
Putin's invasion of Ukraine--built on his supposed fear of invasion from the West--has convinced Germany to rearm seriously. Strategery. Will none of Putin's advisors tell him he is effing up royally?
The only bright spot for Russia is that Germany had sunk so low that the climb back up will be long. NATO must pray it is not too late.
UPDATE: True ... so far:
Putin’s biggest blunder is that he has managed to clear the path for Germany’s return to its traditional status as Central Europe’s dominant military power.
Germany had best pray Russia's military is savaged enough in Ukraine to buy time for Germany to actually rearm.
