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Old 08-15-2019, 12:37 PM
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Arrow Merkel says Germany must improve its military amid spending row with US

Merkel says Germany must improve its military amid spending row with US
By: Slobodan Lekic - Stars & Stripes - 8-15-19
RE: https://www.stripes.com/news/merkel-...th-us-1.594396

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany — German Chancellor Angela Merkel said her country must take “pains” to improve its armed forces amid U.S. threats to move American bases from Germany unless Berlin boosts defense spending.

Merkel played down U.S. diplomatic warnings about the possibility of relocating some of the roughly 35,000 troops in Germany to neighboring Poland.

“I think that the German (bases) are good locations for the American soldiers,” she said after a meeting Wednesday with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, as cited by the German t-online news website.

“There are good reasons for the (U.S.) bases here in Germany but at the same time we know that we must take the pains to get the German military in better shape.”

The German armed forces have come under sharp criticism in recent years for a steady decline in readiness, despite growing security threats from Russia and others.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized NATO members, specifically Germany, for not stepping up to contribute more for the defense of the continent.

Merkel appeared to be referring to a statement last Friday by U.S. Ambassador Richard Grenell, who said it was “actually offensive” that Washington had to pay to keep its forces based in Germany while Berlin failed to meet NATO’s defense spending target of 2% of its gross domestic product.

Meanwhile, U.S. envoy to Poland Georgette Mosbacher last week suggested relocating U.S. troops from Germany to Poland, echoing earlier comments by Trump.

Grenell told the German dpa news agency that he agreed with Mosbacher.

Poland has offered to contribute up to $2 billion to construct a permanent U.S. base. The U.S. currently maintains troops in Poland only on a rotational basis.

Nevertheless, critics have said that a large-scale move from Germany could be expensive and disruptive. It would move U.S. troops from a country with a high-quality infrastructure where they have trained since the end of WWII.

Creating a network of permanent bases in Poland would require new roads, schools, shops and other facilities.

NATO’s 2% of GDP defense spending target dates from 2014, when the Obama administration pushed through a statement pledging that NATO members would reach that goal within a decade.

On Tuesday, Merkel said Germany was moving to increase military spending. Its defense budget would grow to 1.41% of GDP by next year and to 1.5% by 2020.

The center-right leader said that Germany was actually not violating NATO’s defense spending agreement, as member countries agreed back then to lift defense spending “toward 2%.”

“So this means in the direction of 2%, and we will continue to go in this direction also after 2024,” Merkel said, as cited by Reuters.

Stars and Stripes reporter Marcus Kloeckner contributed to this report.

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Personal note: I wouldn't pull of Germany altogether - I would pull out maybe one-half and the other half in Poland before pulling out altogether. We've been in Germany along time and I feel we need to keep some forces there - just because! The cost will be reduced by pulling out half and be picked up by the Poles. Germany still needs us there they just don't know it yet. We are part of the economy and they will surely miss it.
The Poles want us there for many reasons but also to improved their economy locally.

That's just my thoughts anyone got any input let me know. Germany is having problem keeping troops in the service and this alone will not be good should something break out they will not be ready to defend themselves or their people. Germany knows this but again that's their call.

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O Almighty Lord God, who neither slumberest nor sleepest; Protect and assist, we beseech thee, all those who at home or abroad, by land, by sea, or in the air, are serving this country, that they, being armed with thy defence, may be preserved evermore in all perils; and being filled with wisdom and girded with strength, may do their duty to thy honour and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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