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Germany’s Ringtausch project provides justification for mega investments into the Bundeswehr.
Written by Paul Antonopoulos, independent geopolitical analyst
Berlin’s Ringtausch project, in which Germany will supply states with modern weapons if they give up former Eastern bloc made weapons and send them to Ukraine, serves to make a profit not only for Germany, but also the entire Western defence industry. Poland, Czechia, Slovenia and Greece have already joined the German initiative.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis agreed on the project during their May 31 meeting. Now the two countries’ defence ministers are active in this arms exchange program and have also reached an agreement on what Greek media say is the opening of a German arms factory in northern Greece. The investment is said to be worth about half a billion euros.
Although the Germans will claim the arms exchange program is favorable for Ukraine as it will receive Eastern bloc weapons it already knows how to operate, there will still be huge profits to be made. German weapons are outdated and Berlin plans to invest as much as 100 billion euros in the modernisation of the Bundeswehr. Effectively, Ringtausch is an opportunity to get rid of some outdated systems whilst appeasing domestic criticisms for not doing enough to assist Ukraine.
The exchange of old weapons to be sent to Ukraine and replaced with new ones began in the first phase of Russia’s military operation in Ukraine. Poland, the Baltic states, and also some Western countries such as the Netherlands, wanted to get rid of old weapons, primarily those purchased from Russia or acquired from the USSR.
By relieving Russian and Soviet military equipment, European countries are also relieving themselves of ties to Russian military companies. This, at the same time, frees up some space from competition for the US military industrial complex. This industry is now proving to be a matter of great importance given the economic crisis, falling GDP and inflation in the West, even if the industry was initially a main driving force as to why the US invaded Afghanistan and Iraq.
None-the-less, despite the heavy pressure sustained by Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s office in relation to the Ukraine crisis, German politics is wary of relations with Russia. That could also be a reason why Germany is not supplying arms directly to Ukraine and is instead relying on third parties.
Although the German public have been avidly anti-war since World War II, the historical distance and restraint was exposed at the start of the war in Ukraine as there was intense public pressure for the German government to do more to support Ukraine. In this way, Ringtausch became the solution.
However, question marks over Ringtausch exist, especially when we look at the current situation in Poland. Poland has already sent T-72 tanks to Ukraine with the expectation that Germany would supply it with “Leopards” – something that has not yet happened.
It is a paradoxical situation that Germany wants to help Ukraine by relying on third countries giving up their own stocks of Eastern bloc made weapons. This suggests that Germany, as well as these third countries, do not have the desire to send Ukraine modern Western-made systems. By sending disposable assemblies, it further evidences that there is no real desire among the majority of the European Union to help Ukraine in a serious way.
The Ringtausch project allows Scholz to emerge from a vicious cycle in which he has suffered fierce criticism and accusations for not supporting Ukraine strongly enough, but also attacked for advocating sanctions and an oil embargo against Russia because of the economic cost. It also points to a struggle between France and Germany, especially as Emmanuel Macron is seemingly more direct and confrontational with Moscow.
Germany does not pursue an overtly aggressive foreign policy. All of its current activities regarding the crisis in Ukraine, including Ringtausch, are with the aim of strengthening the weakened internal cohesion of German society. As this is the main driving force, it is unlikely that Germany will escalate a weapons program for Ukraine beyond what it currently is. At the same time, a pretext is being established on why the Bundeswehr needs upgrading, which will undoubtedly also include contributions from US industries.
west is superior and most of people want to be part of western world. On another hand russia is just shithole with high rate of HIV, deal with it
Brutal attack on russian invaders by brave ukrainian army…enjoy
https://streamable.com/azrpu5
Germany is bending itself into a pretzel trying save face while also trying to get out of this mess. It looks as pathetic as it is.
And, from where will Germany get its steel, it’s energy and food for its workers??? Germany has been given a right kick up it’s arse by its Big Dicked Master. And will be lucky to survive until 2024 unless it does an about face, drops to its knees and pleads for mercy from Russia. Otherwise it will end up in tatters as its Federal Republics splinter into oblivion.
Iran, south Korea or China.
So, this generation of Germans wants to do like their grandfathers. They want to kill Russians for the sake of Ostsiedlung and Lebensraum.
Okay, Germany. No problem.
This means the current generation of Russians will have to do like their grandfathers. Destroy Germany. Totally.
Don’t worry, Germany. This time it will be over quickly. You’ll never know what hit you.
Exactly
SLAVA ROSSII
There is a lot of revancism in the political elites, but mostly they are US hegemony worshippers, totally brainwashed into service of that global liberal democrcy and the international rules based order.
Dump the crap in the Ukraine, most won’t run long enough to make it to the front.
What is that weapon system in the thumbnail? Gepard?
The oligarch warmongering scum running Germanistan for their angloZionaZi masters are at it again. Not happy with slaughtering almost 30 million Russian and Soviet citizens during the ZionaZi bankster Onkel Adolf scam now they are gearing up for the latest slaughter of ignorant Ukroppers who are willingly spilling their blood on the soil that the Germanistan elite hope to expropriate when Rump Ukropland is finally landlocked and carved up by the demons that started all this.
Meanwhile empty suit hollow man aka Oaf ScholZ and his gaggle of greeny transgendermutant retard loons that makes up his idiot gubermint are getting ready for the massive September lockdown cashkill and 5G brain fraZZle and destruction of the last few rights of their Euro Peon slaves. We can only hope that as Natostan gets crushed by Mother Russia and the entire EUSSR freeZes its collective ass off in the coming winter that enough people are prepared to confront the pigs on the streets of Urupp and decorate the lamp posts of ever Uruppean capital with the Soros NGO political scum, presstitutes and sundry USeful idiots that have turned these once sovereign nations into dumping grounds for the detritus of the serial judaic wars of expansion in the ME and elsewhere.
Z