Germany says it will expand military presence in Indo-Pacific September 1, 2022 Germany says it will expand its military presence in the Indo-Pacific region<br /> 01 September 2022 Creation time: 12:09 PM Last update: 12:09 PM Views: 42 Berlin, September 1 (BNA) The German Defense Minister said that Germany will expand its military presence in the Indo-Pacific by sending more warships and joining exercises with the allies. Germany joins other Western countries in demonstrating more power in the region. Last year, Berlin sent its first warship in nearly 20 years to contested waters in the South China Sea – at the risk of angering its largest trading partner – and this month sent 13 military aircraft to take part in joint exercises in Australia. General Eberhard Zorn told Reuters that the German army plans to send troops to participate in exercises in Australia next year, while the Navy will send a fleet of several other ships to the region in 2024, Reuters reported. “This is how we want to strengthen our presence in the region,” Zorn said in an interview with the Defense Ministry in Berlin. Germany has historically been more closely aligned in its security policy than its allies, placing more emphasis on trade in its international relations – China’s rapid economic expansion led to its growth and the country became its number one trading partner in 2016. But the partners have in recent years called on Germany to show more leadership, in line with its strength as Europe’s largest economy and most populous country. In 2020, Berlin published a new Indo-Pacific strategy with a focus on strengthening alliances with democracies in the region, marking a turning point. Tensions in the Indo-Pacific region are particularly high now after China carried out its largest-ever military maneuvers around Taiwan at the beginning of August. Asked if Germany would send a warship to sail through the Taiwan Strait as the United States did, Zorn said that this is a sensitive issue that has been decided at the highest political level. “We do not want to provoke anyone with our presence, but rather send a strong signal of solidarity with our allies,” he said. “We defend freedom of navigation and the protection of international norms,” he added. Once upon a time, China’s military strength lay in the number of its soldiers, Zorn said. Now its armed forces are technically well-equipped. ZHB Source link Related READ MORE At least 12 dead, over 30 injured in bus fire in India's Nashik city
01 September 2022 Creation time: 12:09 PM Last update: 12:09 PM Views: 42 Berlin, September 1 (BNA) The German Defense Minister said that Germany will expand its military presence in the Indo-Pacific by sending more warships and joining exercises with the allies. Germany joins other Western countries in demonstrating more power in the region. Last year, Berlin sent its first warship in nearly 20 years to contested waters in the South China Sea – at the risk of angering its largest trading partner – and this month sent 13 military aircraft to take part in joint exercises in Australia. General Eberhard Zorn told Reuters that the German army plans to send troops to participate in exercises in Australia next year, while the Navy will send a fleet of several other ships to the region in 2024, Reuters reported. “This is how we want to strengthen our presence in the region,” Zorn said in an interview with the Defense Ministry in Berlin. Germany has historically been more closely aligned in its security policy than its allies, placing more emphasis on trade in its international relations – China’s rapid economic expansion led to its growth and the country became its number one trading partner in 2016. But the partners have in recent years called on Germany to show more leadership, in line with its strength as Europe’s largest economy and most populous country. In 2020, Berlin published a new Indo-Pacific strategy with a focus on strengthening alliances with democracies in the region, marking a turning point. Tensions in the Indo-Pacific region are particularly high now after China carried out its largest-ever military maneuvers around Taiwan at the beginning of August. Asked if Germany would send a warship to sail through the Taiwan Strait as the United States did, Zorn said that this is a sensitive issue that has been decided at the highest political level. “We do not want to provoke anyone with our presence, but rather send a strong signal of solidarity with our allies,” he said. “We defend freedom of navigation and the protection of international norms,” he added. Once upon a time, China’s military strength lay in the number of its soldiers, Zorn said. Now its armed forces are technically well-equipped. ZHB
