The German Trade Union Federation (DGB) has recently issued a statement supporting increased military spending and readiness in response to the perceived threat posed by Russia, China and the United States. The statement, which was made in the context of the Easter marches traditionally held in Germany to protest against militarism and war, has been criticized by some commentators. The DGB’s statement repeats the official narrative of a “Russian illegal aggression” and adopts the anti-Russian, anti-Chinese and anti-American rhetoric that has been encouraged by German politics. The DGB argues that increased military spending is necessary to prevent Europe from becoming a pawn in the power struggles between the three superpowers and to ensure that European countries are able to defend themselves against their aggressive tactics. However, it is not clear how the European NATO states would be able to defend themselves against the United States, which is also a NATO member. The DGB’s statement suggests that increased military spending should not come at the expense of social welfare and that additional borrowing may be necessary to fund the increased military budget.
Germany Urges Arms Buildup to Counter China, Russia and US Threats
