Germany sends troops to Asia Pacific for the first time to participate in military exercises as a major country | Germany | Military exercises
In recent years, Germany has continuously increased its military investment in the Asia Pacific region. According to reports, starting from July 22nd, Germany will send troops to Australia to participate in the "Escort Saber 2023" joint military exercise for the first time.
For participating in this exercise, the German side explained that Germany is no longer solely focused on Europe and must position itself more broadly.
Germany's First Performance
According to reports, the "Escort Saber" exercise is jointly organized by the Australian and US military forces and is held every two years. This year, about 30000 soldiers from 13 countries will participate, making it the largest scale exercise in the history of the exercise. Germany will participate in the exercise as a partner country for the first time this year.
In the view of military observer Zhou Weizheng, this is a bolder attempt by Germany to expand its military influence.
Zhou Weizheng:
For the first time, Germany sent troops to participate in this exercise, although the number was not large, with only over 200 paratroopers and members of the Marine Corps, it had a strong symbolic significance, indicating that Germany has become more aggressive in military actions compared to its previous conservatism and has begun to boldly use its military power externally.
Germany's strategic focus has shifted.
Since the end of World War II, Germany has always been low-key in the field of military security. However, in recent years, Germany has continuously broken the norm and deployed troops to the Asia Pacific region. In 2021, Germany sent frigates to the South China Sea to carry out the so-called "freedom of navigation" operation. Last August, Germany dispatched fighter jets to the Asia Pacific region to participate in military exercises such as the "pitch black 2022".
Combining Germany's participation in the "Guardian Saber" exercise, Zhou Weizheng stated that these military actions indicate that Germany's strategic focus is shifting.
Zhou Weizheng:
Although this series of actions by Germany is not large-scale, it involves three-dimensional combat forces of land, sea, and air. With the development of the international situation, Germany seems to feel that it has ushered in a new opportunity for rise - in the past two years, it has continuously increased military spending, expanded military strength, and expanded military activity areas. Some exploratory military actions have not been subject to too much resistance from the outside world, further stimulating Germany's attempt to revive a military power.
Germany's deployment of troops to the Asia Pacific region is not only to gain the support and recognition of the United States and other Western countries, but also to increase Germany's bargaining chip in the Asia Pacific region.
America, forming cliques
Zhou Weizheng further pointed out that behind Germany's expansion of military power was the instigation and instigation of the United States.
Zhou Weizheng:
On the one hand, the United States is eager to implement the "Indo Pacific strategy" and engage in a zero sum game among major powers. On the other hand, it feels difficult to encircle or even defeat its target opponents on its own, so it needs to pull its allies and partners together to engage in confrontation.
Both in terms of economic strength and military potential, Germany is considered an important helper by the United States.
Germany, self destructive future
According to reports, Germany also plans to participate in the next "Guardian Saber" joint military exercise in 2025.
Zhou Weizheng's analysis pointed out that Germany's role as a helper for the United States to engage in "great power competition" will damage its own development environment and bear unnecessary security risks.
Zhou Weizheng:
As an extraterritorial country, Germany has a strong economic foundation and good bilateral relations with other major powers, which can better develop its own economy and play a good role in international or regional affairs. But now, Germany has shown a tendency to dance with the United States, using military power to intervene in affairs in the Indo Pacific region, which may actually exacerbate regional security tensions and put itself in danger.
