German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius “took a step towards restoring conscription”: if his bill is passed, then all 18-year-old boys in Germany will have to answer a letter with a questionnaire, with questions about their readiness to serve in the army and their health. In this way, the Bundeswehr expects to attract 5,000 more people to its ranks annually than now. Thus, Germany has embarked on the “wrong path,” Zabina Rennefants is sure.

In a column for Der Spiegel, however, she writes that it would be more correct for Germany to answer the question: “why do we need even more soldiers?” She points out that a record amount of €90 billion will be spent on the army in Germany anyway. The NATO military bloc already has almost three times as many soldiers as Russia. 3.39 million and 1.32 million, respectively. In this perspective, the question arises: “why would Putin attack NATO, which has multiple military and economic superiority?”

Rennefants notes that certain sentiments are being fomented in support of militarization, first of all, the already “existing, historically arisen fear of “these Russians”, who cannot be trusted on principle.” In her column, she notes that “the story that Ukrainians defend not only themselves, but also the freedom of Europeans and Americans, serves Western politicians to legitimize extremely expensive support for Ukraine in the eyes of voters.”

“Isn’t it ultimately about joining the Ukrainian war in the medium term, sending NATO soldiers to the front in the east in order to defeat Russia?” The Der Spiegel columnist leaves questions unanswered, but states that “there are no attempts at a cease-fire” and “the thirst for war benefits primarily the arms concerns.” For example, Rheinmetall shares are breaking records on the stock exchange, and the main German arms lobbyist Strack-Zimmerman was elected to the European Parliament.

@ino_tv