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BERLIN – The defense ministers of Germany and France have issued a joint call for the rapid expansion of the European defense industry, emphasizing that robust military deterrence depends on the scalability and efficiency of industrial production. The ministers met yesterday in Berlin during a session of the German-French Parliamentary Assembly to discuss the future of European security.
Strengthening European Defense Capabilities
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) highlighted the critical need for a more capable industrial base. \”Deterrence only works militarily if the defense industry behind it has the performance and scalability to deliver what we need,\” Pistorius stated. He noted that over the past 30 years, the European defense sector has struggled to maintain the leading role required by current geopolitical threats.
Pistorius acknowledged the need for a transition period, stating, \”We need a transition phase where we develop as quickly as possible and create European independence and sovereignty. In the meantime, we must take what is available on the market.\”
Industrial Cooperation and Sovereignty
French Defense Minister Catherine Vautrin echoed these sentiments, stressing the necessity of a strong and sovereign defense policy base. \”Germany and France possess significant industrial capacities,\” Vautrin said. \”They must drive the entire European industry forward.\”
Both ministers addressed the challenges faced by past projects, including the Future Combat Air System (FCAS). Pistorius admitted that the failure to progress was largely due to industrial issues rather than government policy. He reflected that, in the past, projects were often \”overloaded ideologically with lofty ambitions\” rather than focusing on practical applicability and rapid development.
Key Points from the Assembly:
- Focus on Scalability: Ensuring the industry can meet immediate defense requirements.
- Strategic Autonomy: Moving toward greater European independence in defense production.
- Policy Shift: Moving away from ideologically driven projects toward practical, deployable solutions.
The German-French Parliamentary Assembly, consisting of 100 members-50 from the German Bundestag and 50 from the French Assemblée nationale-meets at least twice a year to deliberate on bilateral and European issues.
Source: news.de
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