Germany’s far-right AfD says the Bundeswehr has become too soft and wants to bring back discipline and a “warrior culture” inspired by the U.S. military under Trump, slamming progressive reforms as harmful to combat readiness.
In a heated Bundestag debate on Wednesday, AfD lawmaker Hannes Gnauck criticized the current state of Germany’s military, accusing it of losing its fighting edge and embracing what he described as “ideological decay.”
Gnauck mocked gender-focused roles, eco-friendly infrastructure, and what he referred to as a “wellness culture” within the Bundeswehr. “We need fighters, not CEOs with gender advisers,” he said. “Men and women who can lead, fight, and defend our country.”
The AfD’s stance closely mirrors that of U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth under President Trump, who has rolled back diversity programs and pledged to restore a “warrior ethos” in the American military.
Gnauck also took aim at the Bundeswehr’s climate-conscious renovations, calling them an example of misguided priorities. “Climate protection instead of combat readiness — that’s madness,” he argued.
He criticized modern troop accommodations as too comfortable, claiming that soldiers now live like hotel guests rather than warriors. “They need weapons, vehicles, and tight-knit units — not personal rooms with Wi-Fi,” he said.
Now the largest opposition party after Germany’s February elections, the AfD has also renewed its opposition to sending arms to Ukraine. Gnauck warned against involvement in “proxy wars” and accused the government of depleting Germany’s military to serve foreign agendas.
Despite AfD resistance, Chancellor Friedrich Merz has pledged to continue military support to Ukraine, keeping Germany as the second-largest donor after the United States, even as the Trump administration signals a possible pullback.
U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities have drawn calls for restraint and diplomacy from global leaders, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry on Saturday voiced deep concern over the escalating tensions following the United States’ military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, calling on all sides to prioritize diplomacy over confrontation.
The Pentagon concluded a high-stakes press briefing Saturday afternoon following the U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, outlining the scale and success of the mission while stressing the door remains open to diplomacy.
Türkiye has voiced strong concern following the United States’ strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, warning that the action could dangerously escalate the conflict and trigger a global crisis.
Global investors are bracing for significant market turmoil when trading reopens, with analysts predicting a sharp spike in oil prices and a flight to safe-haven assets following the United States' announcement of military strikes against three Iranian nuclear facilities.
At least 20 people were killed and more than 50 injured after a suicide bomber attacked a church in central Damascus, Syria’s capital, on Sunday, officials confirmed.
U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities have drawn calls for restraint and diplomacy from global leaders, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Israel is nearing its objective of eliminating Iran’s ballistic missile and nuclear capabilities, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday, vowing to continue the campaign until those threats are neutralised.
The U.N. Security Council met on Sunday after U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, as Russia, China and Pakistan proposed a resolution urging an immediate Middle East ceasefire, raising tensions over the legality and fallout of Western military action.
The U.S. maintains a broad military presence across the Middle East, reflecting long-standing strategic interests and evolving regional dynamics.
Iranian missiles struck multiple locations across Israel and neighbouring regions early Friday morning, including a Microsoft office complex, according to emergency responders and local media reports.
A high-speed tram derailment in central Gothenburg, Sweden, has left at least eight people injured late on Thursday (19 June), after the vehicle slammed into a snack bar on Avenyn Avenue.
China has unveiled a mosquito-sized bionic drone designed for covert military operations and battlefield reconnaissance, marking a major advance in micro-robotics and stealth technology as part of the country’s growing focus on next-generation warfare capabilities.
The 2025 G7 Leaders’ Summit was held June 15–17 in Kananaskis, Alberta, under Canada’s presidency. Prime Minister Mark Carney framed the meeting around priorities of protecting communities, energy and climate security, the digital transition, and future partnerships.
The USS Nimitz is heading to the Middle East amid tensions between Israel and Iran. The U.S. aircraft carrier has a decades-long history in the region, from the 1979 hostage crisis to modern deployments, often serving as a key asset during periods of rising friction with Iran.
U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities have drawn calls for restraint and diplomacy from global leaders, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Israel is nearing its objective of eliminating Iran’s ballistic missile and nuclear capabilities, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday, vowing to continue the campaign until those threats are neutralised.
The U.N. Security Council met on Sunday after U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, as Russia, China and Pakistan proposed a resolution urging an immediate Middle East ceasefire, raising tensions over the legality and fallout of Western military action.
The United States has called on China to use its influence to dissuade Iran from closing the Strait of Hormuz, warning that such a move would trigger severe global economic fallout and risk major escalation following U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
NATO member states have reached a consensus on a landmark defence spending target of 5% of GDP by 2035, paving the way for a formal announcement at the alliance’s upcoming summit in The Hague.
At least 20 people were killed and more than 50 injured after a suicide bomber attacked a church in central Damascus, Syria’s capital, on Sunday, officials confirmed.
U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities have drawn calls for restraint and diplomacy from global leaders, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Israel is nearing its objective of eliminating Iran’s ballistic missile and nuclear capabilities, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday, vowing to continue the campaign until those threats are neutralised.
The U.N. Security Council met on Sunday after U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, as Russia, China and Pakistan proposed a resolution urging an immediate Middle East ceasefire, raising tensions over the legality and fallout of Western military action.
The U.S. maintains a broad military presence across the Middle East, reflecting long-standing strategic interests and evolving regional dynamics.
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