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.
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The United Nations mission in Afghanistan said on Monday it had received “credible reports” that at least 13 civilians were killed and seven other...
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The former British ambassador to the U.S. Peter Mandelson has been arrested by police in London on suspicion of misconduct in public office....
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said nuclear talks with United States have “yielded encouraging signals” stressing Iran’s readiness “f...
A powerful winter storm has brought large parts of the U.S. Northeast to a standstill, dumping more than a foot of snow across several states and severely disrupting transport and daily life.
The United Nations mission in Afghanistan said on Monday it had received “credible reports” that at least 13 civilians were killed and seven others injured in overnight Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghanistan.
Four members of Syria’s Internal Security Forces were killed on Monday in an attack by the ISIS (Daesh) terrorist group targeting a checkpoint west of Raqqa in northeastern Syria, the Interior Ministry said.
Central Asia’s population could reach 96 million by 2040, according to the head of the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB), highlighting both the region’s economic potential and the growing strain on infrastructure, trade routes and long-term development models.
A seven-month-old Japanese macaque has drawn international attention after forming an unusual bond with a stuffed orangutan toy after being rejected by its mother.
Pakistan said it carried out cross-border strikes on militant targets inside Afghanistan after blaming a series of recent suicide bombings, including attacks during the holy month of Ramadan, on fighters it said were operating from Afghan territory.
Italy said a fond farewell to the Winter Olympics on Sunday with an open-air ceremony in the ancient Verona Arena that celebrated art and sporting achievement at a Games lauded as a model for how to stage such events.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has approved new sanctions targeting Russian maritime operators, defence-linked companies and individuals connected to Moscow’s military and energy sectors, according to official decrees issued on Saturday.
The United States and Iran will hold a new round of nuclear negotiations in Geneva on Thursday as part of renewed diplomatic efforts to reach a potential agreement, Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi announced on Sunday.
Chinese travellers made an estimated 362.58 million cross-regional passenger trips on Monday, the final day of the Spring Festival holiday, according to official data.
Thousands of people gathered across Europe and beyond over the weekend in solidarity with Ukraine, as the war with Russia entered its fifth year.
A powerful winter storm has brought large parts of the U.S. Northeast to a standstill, dumping more than a foot of snow across several states and severely disrupting transport and daily life.
The United Nations mission in Afghanistan said on Monday it had received “credible reports” that at least 13 civilians were killed and seven others injured in overnight Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghanistan.
The former British ambassador to the U.S. Peter Mandelson has been arrested by police in London on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
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