Source: Central Military
The German defense minister recently revealed that the German army plans to visit Japan next year, and the ground forces of the two countries will officially carry out joint training for the first time. On 7 May, Germany sent ships to the Pacific Ocean for a months-long training mission.
Why does Germany continue to increase its military involvement in the Asia-Pacific region?
The underlying reasons for German-Japanese cooperation
Data map: Bundeswehr soldiers (source: reference news)
German Defense Minister Pistorius said the German Army and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force are in talks to facilitate joint training in Japan to demonstrate the importance of maintaining international order and "to deepen relations with partners in the Indo-Pacific region."
Regarding the strengthening of military cooperation between the German army and the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force, military observer Cao Weidong made an analysis.
Cao Weidong:
Germany and Japan are planning joint military exercises in an attempt to break the "shackles" imposed on each other, as a tactic to try to restore their so-called "normalized countries."
Behind the joint military exercises is the instigation of the United States, which hopes to use the military power of Germany and Japan to implement its "Indo-Pacific strategy" and engage in great power confrontation.
The "pawn" of the great power game
Data map: German "Baden-Württemberg" frigate (source: Observer Network)
On 7 May, the German frigate Baden-Württemberg and the supply ship Frankfurt am Main set off for a months-long training mission in the Pacific. The German side said the two ships are part of Germany's deployment of forces in the Indo-Pacific, which is the most important plan for the German Navy this year.
Cao Weidong believes that by dancing with the United States, Germany intends to highlight its influence in the Asia-Pacific region and the key role it plays, and to become an important "chess piece" in the US strategy of "great power competition."
Cao Weidong:
Germany continues to expand its military presence in Asia through demonstrations of military strength and participation in joint training. The United States plans to build an "Asia-Pacific version of NATO" in order to gather NATO's military strength in the Asia-Pacific region. This time, Germany sent warships to the Pacific Ocean to carry out a training mission for several months, in fact, with the help of the United States to promote the "Indo-Pacific strategy" and realize its global military deployment through cross-continental training in the far sea.
Changes in German defense policy
Data map: The German frigate "Bavaria" visiting Japan (source: Global Times)
Since the end of World War II, Germany has kept a low profile in the field of military security. However, in recent years, Germany has not only extended its strategic tentacles to the Asia-Pacific region, but has also continuously strengthened the scale and intensity of its military buildup. On April 4, Germany launched its most comprehensive military reform since the Cold War.
Will there be a shift in German defense policy? What are the possible implications? In this regard, Cao Weidong explained.
Cao Weidong:
Germany is an important member of NATO. After the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, Germany actively followed the United States and provided weapons and equipment to Ukraine. With the deterioration of relations with Russia, Germany believes that its own security has been threatened, and has proposed to increase defense spending, speed up its armament buildup, and at the same time expand its military tentacles in the direction of the Asia-Pacific region.
In fact, many factors in the change in German defense policy originated from the United States.