Germany is ramping up its military operations amid security concerns over the Russia-Ukraine war. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorious talked about the rearming on "60 Minutes." Isaac Stanley Becker, staff writer for The Atlantic, joins to discuss.

Berlin

Russian forces have invaded Ukraine from land, air and sea with strikes causing widespread damage. Global leaders have condemned the move and imposed sanctions.

Ukraine Invasion

Germany is undertaking a significant rearmament and modernization of its military after years of pacifism following the Cold War. This shift is driven by concerns over Russian President Vladimir Putin's ambitions in Europe and uncertainty about continued U.S. support for European defense.

German officials, including the defense minister, have set a goal to be fully prepared for potential conflict by 2029. The move is also influenced by changes in U.S. political leadership and a perceived retreat from America's traditional security role in Europe, prompting Germany to reconsider its position within the international order.

Germany rearms as war in Ukraine threatens security

Germany is racing right now to rearm and modernize its military after decades of embracing pacifism after the Cold War. The change is driven by concerns over Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. support for European defense. Bill Whitaker sat down with Germany's defense minister on 60 Minutes to discuss Putin's ambitions. There's not only the war against Ukraine. This is a war against a root-based international order, and at the same time, he does not stop stressing what he's really longing for, like a renaissance of the Soviet empire. He wants to be the dominant power in Europe, and he wants to be the third of three world powers like China and the U.S. When does Germany need to be ready for war? We should do everything to be that in 2029. We're joined now by Isaac Stanley Becker. He's a staff writer at The Atlantic reporting on this. Isaac, good morning. We appreciate you being with us. Help our viewers understand why Germany is rearming. We mentioned it's not just the Russia-Ukraine war, but also the U.S. pressuring them to spend more on defense. Absolutely. I think the change in the administration and the transfer of power here in Washington can't be overstated. Of course, there's a threat from Russia, but we've seen that really since the full-scale invasion in 2022 and going back further. The impetus for the rapid changes being made, the rapid modernization and the kind of mind-boggling amount of spending on the military really begins this year, and it is the reelection of Donald Trump and hostility not only to the government in Kyiv, but also to America's traditional allies in Europe. We're seeing a retreat from the traditional role that the U.S. has played anchoring and defending the international system that it helped create after the Second World War. And we know how much this international system has aided and enabled Germany's rehabilitation and back into a normal country after the crimes it committed. And with this transformation, this kind of dizzying transformation, Germany is rethinking its role in the world. Now, we heard the defense minister there say that the aim is to be more prepared by 2029. But is Germany saying it wants to rearm enough, saying it now enough to deter Putin from a wider war in the future? Well, this is an interesting calculus. Other German military officials have said that Russia could potentially attack a NATO country by the end of the decade, by 2029. So this year, the state has figured heavily in Germany's planning. Of course, part of this is a question of deterrence and not just preparation for the kind of worst case that if there can be a perception that Europe is sufficiently able to defend itself, to fight that, to deter Russia or figure in its thinking. This is a difficult balance and dilemma here, but clearly there is a significant degree of concern and a perceived need to prepare for the worst case. All right. Isaac Stanley Becker joining us from Washington. Thanks for being with us this Monday. Thank you.

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Council of the City of Sydney

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Jerusalem

Middle East Conflict

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Germany rearms as war in Ukraine threatens security

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