the german soldiers, a training for the worst case, an attack on may 2 territory. it's a threat. the western military line sees as very real with russia waging war and ukraine. countries that share a border with russia, one germany to take more responsibility for europe's defense. is blocking the league plus donald trump is president again, if he cuts us support for europe security, this can create to real immediate issues. so why isn't germany leading europe's defense and who's going to do it instead? the, this is nate was biggest exercise in decades since the end of the cold war. it's called steadfast defender, a chance for all ne,

2 members to showcase their combines military might. nato's $32.00 member countries abound by a promise of collective security to defend each other in case of an attack. and right now the line sees its biggest stretch ride on its doorstep from russia. this is russian territory cleaning garage right between poland and ridge wayne. yeah, and then there is rushes, goes allied that a rose danger is moving towards us at full speed. you must not to the rate. we must face it. that's why many of these nato drills are taking place in europe's northeast. like here in norway or here in this wayne. yeah, that's location for the finale of this whole exercise. and germany is leading it.

the point is to practice a crucial process moving troops and equipment from germany to the potential front line quickly via this week. for this, for the with this location at the center of europe, germany as a major hub, phone a tool, and would play a central logistical role if russia attacked a need to member in recent years, jeremy has significantly boosted its defense spending. it's also europe's biggest provider of military ag ukraine by far sounds like a leader. right. well, a lot of work needs to be done. this is what we think of sancho an expert on german and european defense policy. so at this point, europe remains concerning the dependent on the united states military speaking. let's have

a look at what that means. firstly, europe relies on the u. s. military industry for much of the equipment it needs to by. and then there are the us nuclear warhead, stationed in europe, plus around a $100000.00 us troops on the continent. around a 3rd of those troops are stationed in germany. guaranteeing europe security has been in the us interest for a long time. and for more than 75 years, the central structure to do so has been through the nature lines. under donald trump, he's been complaining the us is paying too much for your security. and he's even threatening not to protect allies, so you don't may, may to us defense spending target. currently a 2 percent of g d p that would call into question nato's core

principle of collective defense. the u. s. currently has the biggest military of all nato members. the u. s. also has the most sophisticated equipment and intelligence. there were several military capabilities that nature only has because the united states has it tends if the us withdrawal. so it just kind of decides to be less involved in nature. this can create real, real, real, immediate issues. so why is europe and why is germany so dependent on the us for it security? guess what? it has a lot to do with history. it may 1945 nazi germany surrendered. soon

after world war 2 was over was more than 60000000 debt on the battlefield. and as victims of german atrocities denazi's guilds, many millions of jews, people with disabilities, cynthia, and roma, homosexuals, and many other persecuted groups. germany was split into 4 zones of occupation controlled by the victorious allied powers. the united states, the united kingdom, france, and the soviet union. and berlin, right, in the middle of the soviets sector, was also scheduled for after the atrocities of world war 2. the allies initially decided germany should never again be trusted with arms or troops. so the german military was disbanded, and the country demilitarized. instead,

the allies stationed their own troops and their zones soon to german. these were established the federal republic of germany, a democracy aligned with west end, the german democratic republic, a communist dictatorship, dependent on the soviet union. but then tensions grew between the us and the soviet union. the border between the 2, germany's became the front line of the cold war re on them and was now on the agenda both in east and west germany. but it's the west will focus on because we're talking about the role of the us in 1955 with us backing west. germany established its new military force manned for defense only. the idea of we, i'm in germany was controversial at west germany after it's defend spending young

man. we're now required to do military service west germany also joined natal insurance bonus valve was integrated into the western military alliance and 1961, the gd yard. so east germany started building the berlin wall and soon after tensions reached a peak, a face off between us and soviet tanks on the streets of berlin. the fast forward a few decades and everything changed. the cold war ended. the berlin wall fell and the 2 jeremy were re united. there was no feeling in the west and one there was the tequila lead embrace in germany that now geo political

competition had ended. and that military competition and military confrontation was a thing of the past. many german, so no need for a strong military. and its neighbors didn't want that either. for germany, military power became a thing that was just not relevant anymore. and in fact, was seen quite negatively with defense spending cuts the booms via fell into quite a dire state. it started making headlines like these a mass breakdown of tags and draining, not with machine guns, but broomsticks. then this happens, the rushes full scale invasion of ukraine.

yeah. i know what else to do based on this paper, it is a very, very thoughtful and it was that side or turning point that set in motion. major changes on the government announced of one of the specialists on a 100000000000 euros to get the bonus back up to scratch. since then, germany has modernize its arsenal. germany has spent billions on military ag ukraine plus germany is setting up the military base and its wayne. yes, to help strengthen nato's eastern slack. and germany is finally meeting nature's to present defense spending target. that's 3 years after short,

it's announced the type of vendor. it's clear that it will take more than a little spring cleaning to fix the german military's problems. you've been a good call. scott is opponents researcher on the german bonus math, nato, and european defense. she says, germany has a lot more to do pertaining to rock se on into magic modernization plans on a more people to serve. and there is a big question mark with regard to future funding and future financing of the german armed forces. germany's establish tardies might agree on boosting defense capabilities. further that's no one really seems to know where to get the money from. plus defense funding is a divisive issue within germany. all that affects the way germany behaves on the european level. german use is, is,

is still struggling with this rule of yeah, of, of liter um, or kind of unifying force within, within europe. this whole thing about germany not seeing itself as a leader. that's a big part of its post for identity. and that's visible. now, in germany's approach to ukraine's defense, it's reluctant to lead the way, prefers to act as part of an alliance. choice has warrant against germany getting to involved in the war. he set the limits like refusing to send long range torres missile systems to ukraine. of the german, he understands, or sauls has a very cautious reactive stance towards a towards the original or engaging creed. and so is blocking the league and needs to be pushed into the more ambitious and b to take

more decisions. so from poland is perspective, at least germany can be expected to take the lead. so who will the other major players like friends and the u. k? don't look set for that role either. they're your only nuclear powers. have strong military's or big spenders on defense. and key supporters of ukraine but france has been mired and political crisis for months and with the u. k. now out of the u, it doesn't have a strong claim to leadership in europe. instead, it's other countries taking the most action right now. these are the countries that have seen the most dramatic increase in defense spending over the last 10 years, poland, estonia, lot fia, lithuania, and finish. what do they all have in common?

right, they all share a border with russia. we are the countries. now that's the case was rushing across the directions, highway one. so we took off the pressure on our folder and it shows poland has planning to spend 5 percent of gdp on defense this year. more than even the u. s. the baltic and northern states to have invested mass of the into the military. but the, it doesn't matter whether the baltic states increased the defense funding and they keep abilities by 200 percent or 3000 if you want this year signs of their countries and their economies doesn't match well, find some jeremy for example. and so you need the big countries, you need to promise you need germany, you need the united kingdom. germany has pledged to ramp up its military

capabilities. but as we've seen, there are many.