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🇩🇪 Germany must be prepared for war

🇩🇪 Germany must be prepared for war

and Polish soldier dies at Belarus border

June 07, 2024

Germany must be prepared for war - that’s according to the country’s defense minister Boris Pistorius.

Meanwhile, Russo-French relations appear to worsen as President Emmanuel Macron announced the transfer of Mirage-2000 fighter jets to Ukraine, further straining ties. Additionally, a French researcher has been arrested in Moscow for allegedly collecting intelligence, increasing the tension between the two nations.

All the details here ⤵️

Top 5 Stories

1️⃣🇷🇺 Russia: A Ukrainian drone attack ignited a fire at the Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery and hit an oil depot in Belgorod, according to regional governors. Russia's Defense Ministry intercepted 19 Ukrainian drones over Belgorod and Crimea, while Ukraine downed 17 of 18 drones launched by Russia overnight. Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated threats to use nuclear weapons if Russia's sovereignty is threatened and criticized Western support for Ukraine.

2️⃣🇵🇱 Poland: A Polish soldier died from injuries sustained in a knife attack at the Belarus border, prompting Prime Minister Donald Tusk to blame Russia and Belarus for destabilizing the EU through organized migrant crossings. The attacker remains unidentified. Following the incident, Poland plans to spend over €2.3 billion to bolster border security. Separately, two Polish soldiers face charges for firing warning shots during a border incident in March, which prosecutors say was not life-threatening.

3️⃣🇫🇷 France: President Emmanuel Macron announced the transfer of Mirage-2000 fighter jets to Ukraine, along with training for Ukrainian pilots and equipping a brigade of 4,500 soldiers. Amid critical power shortages from Russian attacks, Ukraine faces power cuts in 12 regions, including Kyiv.

4️⃣🇪🇸 Spain: Spain's support for Palestine has escalated tensions with Israel, particularly after Spain recognized Palestinian statehood and joined the ICJ genocide case against Israel. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez met with Palestinian leaders and other Middle Eastern officials in Madrid, drawing ire from Israel. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz accused Spain of inciting genocide and halted consulate services for Palestinians in response, further straining diplomatic relations.

5️⃣🇾🇪 Yemen: Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi announced that operations against Israel, in collaboration with the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, will intensify. This follows claims by Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree of joint military operations targeting Israel's Haifa port, which the Israeli military has denied. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq also confirmed these operations via a statement on Telegram.

Major Story

Germany’s Defense Minister has issued a stark warning: the nation must be prepared for potential warfare by 2029 due to escalating threats from Russia. Addressing the German parliament, Boris Pistorius emphasized the urgency of fortifying defenses in response to Russia's aggressive posture in Eastern Europe. “We must be ready for war by 2029,” he declared, underscoring the necessity of bolstering Germany's military readiness.

This statement comes amidst growing anxiety across Europe, particularly in countries bordering Russia. Pistorius highlighted the looming danger, stating, "We must not believe that Putin will stop at Ukraine’s borders when he gets that far.” His remarks echo concerns that Russia's ambitions may extend beyond Ukraine, necessitating robust defensive measures from NATO allies.

General Carsten Breuer, chief inspector of the German army, reinforced this timeline, estimating that Russia will need five to eight years to rebuild its military after the protracted conflict in Ukraine. This estimate places a 2029 deadline on NATO's efforts to prepare for potential combat scenarios. Pistorius called for a ready and capable military force, emphasizing the importance of having young men and women prepared to defend the country in an emergency.

During a recent visit to Pabradė, Lithuania, where German troops participated in joint military exercises with Lithuanian, Dutch, and French forces, Pistorius remarked on the shifting global landscape. He pointed out that the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, had fundamentally altered the strategic environment. “For us as the Bundeswehr, that means that the mission has changed; national and alliance defense is the focus,” Pistorius stated, signaling a significant shift in Germany's defense priorities.

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Other News

1️⃣🇺🇸 USA: Former Trump strategist Steve Bannon has been ordered to report to prison by 1 July to serve a four-month sentence for contempt of Congress. This follows his 2022 conviction for refusing to testify before the committee investigating the 6 January Capitol riot. Bannon, who plans to appeal to the Supreme Court, claims the charges aim to silence the "Maga movement."

2️⃣🇳🇱 Netherlands: Dutch voters kicked off the EU elections with a tight race between the left-green alliance and Geert Wilders' anti-Islam populist party. Exit polls show the Green-Labour alliance leading by a slim margin, with Wilders' Freedom Party making significant gains but not repeating its previous general election success. The Dutch vote, reflecting national issues and broader EU trends, saw a 47% turnout, indicating a polarized electorate focused on migration, security, and EU policies.

3️⃣🇷🇺 Russia: Laurent Vinatier, a French researcher for the Geneva-based Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, was arrested in Moscow on charges of collecting military intelligence and failing to register as a “foreign agent.” The arrest, part of Russia's crackdown on foreign influence, has drawn condemnation from French President Emmanuel Macron, who denies Vinatier’s involvement with the French state. The arrest highlights strained France-Russia relations, especially after Macron’s comments on possible French military involvement in Ukraine.