AbroadToday, 15:004Pistorius warns of the "worst case scenario" for Europe after the US presidential election

In 2024, the US will hold a presidential election, the impact of which could be far-reaching on Germany and NATO, in an interview with a newspaper “Welt am Sonntag” admits German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius. He also points out that the Bundeswehr’s problems will not be solved until then.

Many US Republicans are critical of support for Ukraine. Presumptive presidential candidate Donald Trump thinks as little of Joe Biden’s Ukraine policy as he does of NATO. Therefore, it is quite possible that after the next presidential election in 2024, the Americans will significantly reduce their involvement in Europe.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) outlined in an interview what he considers to be the “worst case scenario”. “If the president of the United States moved into the White House, who would distance himself from Europe and NATO, then we would have challenges that are currently unimaginable,” to the newspaper “Welt am Sonntag” Pistorius said. Europe will then have to offset the US obligations. “Then this responsibility for the defense of the alliance, in addition to what is already done today, must be compensated for by the Europeans within NATO,” said the SPD politician.

Pistorius believes that even a pro-European US president will have to pay more attention to the Indo-Pacific region. Germany will also have to get involved there. “That’s why we are planning another naval mission in the region next year,” said the defense minister.

When it comes to the Bundeswehr’s equipment problems, Pistorius relies on prioritization. “We all know that by 2030 the existing gaps cannot be completely eliminated,” the minister told the newspaper.

“One of those priorities is the defense of NATO’s eastern flank.”

Pistorius had already made it clear in an interview with “Der Spiegel” in March that the Bundeswehr’s commitments would make future arms deliveries to Ukrainians difficult. Germany still has only one Patriot air defense system, Pistorius said at the time. “If I give it away now, we won’t have anything to practice with.”

However, the minister rejected the move to a “war economy” called for by former head of the Munich Security Conference, Wolfgang Ischinger. “A war economy would mean that we convert the whole economy as if Germany were a participant in this war,” the paper said “Welt am Sonntag” Pistorius said. “We are not, and therefore it cannot be discussed.” However, according to him, all levers are being used in the armaments industry at the moment.