According to a report from Agence France-Presse on May 14, against the backdrop of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, German Chancellor Merz vowed on May 14 to establish "the strongest conventional army in Europe." Merz made the remarks in his speech at the German Federal Parliament. He said, "This is commensurate for the most populous and economically powerful country in Europe. Our friends and partners also expect us to do so. In fact, this is their requirement." This is Chancellor Merz's first major speech in the German Federal Parliament since his government took office last week. He pledged to provide "all necessary financial resources" for the long-underfunded German Defense Forces. Due to historical events of World War II, Germany has been reluctant to invest heavily in military affairs for a long time. After the end of the Cold War, Germany's military spending plummeted sharply. Former U.S. President Donald Trump demanded that Germany and other allies increase spending on collective defense. Merz promised that Germany will play a greater role in diplomacy and security in Europe at a time of high geopolitical tension. With a fiscal plan passed by the previous parliament, the Merz government has paved the way for the implementation of a "bazooka" fiscal expenditure plan, which will allocate tens of billions of euros in additional funding for defense and infrastructure construction. "Strengthening the Bundeswehr is our top priority," Merz said. "The German government will provide all necessary financial resources to make the Bundeswehr the strongest conventional army in Europe." He added: "A strong deterrent repels invaders; weakness invites aggression." He also emphasized Germany's continued support for Ukraine but stated, "We are not a party to the war and do not want to be one." "Our goal is to make Germany and Europe strong enough to never need to use weapons. To achieve this goal, we must take on more responsibilities within NATO and the EU," Merz said. The current challenges are enormous. In recent years, the German Bundeswehr has been criticized for equipment failures, including helicopters unable to fly and rifles firing inaccurately. Germany suspended conscription during the tenure of former Chancellor Merkel, but Merz said measures would be taken to rebuild the military. He said, "We will create a new, attractive volunteer system." Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7504659205224415796/ Disclaimer: The article only represents the author's personal views. Please express your attitude by clicking the "like/dislike" buttons below.