There has been much talk about the planned increase in the army budget since the start of the war in Ukraine. Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner has now provided concrete figures for the first time. Presenting the report “Risk Landscape Austria 2022” on Thursday, the ÖVP politician spoke of an increase from the current 0.6 percent to 1.5 percent in the next five years.
The militia commissioner Erwin Hameseder called for an increase in the defense budget “more than one percent and additional investment packages to quickly make up for the major omissions of the past”. He also pushed for the reintroduction of mandatory militia exercises. “Only those who practice regularly can fulfill their mission,” says Hameseder.
Russia sanctions ‘are a tightrope’
The majority of the population now wants action, Hamesder referred to ongoing investigations. “Let’s draw the right conclusions so we’re safe tomorrow,” Hameseder said. At the same time, he warned about the consequences of economic sanctions against Russia for the West itself: there is a risk that many jobs will be lost. “Sanctions are a tightrope walk”, one must be careful that they do not harm us more than Russia.
Tanner: Peace can no longer be taken for granted
Tanner described the war as a “watershed for European security policy”. “Peace can no longer be taken for granted.” We must draw the right lessons from this. “We have to defend our country very broadly, we need a significantly higher defense budget,” says Tanner.
The military must strengthen and expand its core competencies. “There are enough concepts, they exist. Now it’s time to implement them,” Tanner told the Greens, who are slashing the increase in the military budget and demanding “drafts.” “We won’t buy anything that we don’t need urgently,” Tanner continued.
Source: Krone
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