Several months ago, I read an article about the state of Germany’s military. According to the article, the shortage of weapons for the infantry was so severe that it was using wooden sticks in place of rifles in training. I also read that a substantial portion of the Air Force was unable to train since the number of functioning aircraft was minimal. I don’t know anything about the state of the Navy. If what I read is accurate, then what will Germany contribute to the efforts to protect the Straits of Hormuz? Perhaps it will be limited to moral support. For too many years the Germans relied on the USA for protection and, instead of investing in its own defense, spent the money on social welfare programs, all while deriding the USA. Now, as the expression goes “the chickens have come home to roost.”
“the state of Germany’s military”
Not only is it underfunded, it is also driven by political correctness, and lacking practical experience. Their rules of engagement when they do deploy (like in Afghanistan) are so restrictive, that they might as well send Boy Scouts or nuns. They just don’t pull triggers on real targets.
The population of Germany itself is one of the least supportive of their military, even within Europe. One survey indicated that only 18% of military age German men would be willing to fight for their country.