New German defense minister plans to ready army for 'new' situation

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
17 Jan 2023 21:38

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced this morning that Pistorius will be appointed as future defense minister and he will be taking an oath in the Bundestag next Thursday.

Boris Pistorius, then Interior Minister of Lower Saxony, speaks at a press conference on the topic of "Organized Crime in Lower Saxony 2021" in Hannover, Germany, December 8, 2022 (MORITZ FRANKENBERG / AP)

In light of Russia's recent victory in Soledar, the soon-to-be appointed German defense minister Boris Pistorius told reporters on Tuesday that he plans to kick off his official duties by preparing the Bundeswehr, the German armed forces, for the 'new situation' in Ukraine.

"The tasks the troops are facing are enormous. Therefore, I will begin my official duties immediately after taking the oath on Thursday and exchange views with the ministry, the Bundeswehr, the leadership, and, of course, the parliamentarians," Pistorius told reporters, adding that he "must prepare the Bundeswehr for the new situation" in connection to the conflict in Ukraine.

"It's important for me to involve the soldiers closely in this process," Pistorius explained, noting that the German army can rely on his support as the soon-to-be defense minister.

Pistorius added that close cooperation with the German people was of great importance to him.

The 62-year-old official has held the post of head of the interior ministry in the federal state of Lower Saxony since 2013.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced this morning that Pistorius will be appointed as future defense minister and he will be taking an oath in the Bundestag next Thursday.

Pistorius was once a member of the German-Russian Friendship Group, created in cooperation with the Russian Federation Council.

He understands Russian well and has previously expressed opposition at EU sanctions against Russia in 2018 for strengthening Moscow's position while weakening Germany's.

Former defense minister Christine Lambrecht had asked Scholz on Monday to resign from her duties.

She blamed the "months-long media focus on my person" for preventing her from making "security policy decisions in the interest of the citizens of Germany."

Her resignation comes in the backdrop of preparations for a NATO summit at the US airbase in Ramstein, Germany, scheduled on January 20.

It also comes in the backdrop of discussions on the potential supply of German Leopard tanks 2 to Kiev which Germany has so far shown reluctance to implement.