It was a regular sight in Western Germany some 30 years ago, on main roads and motorways: long columns of tanks and armored vehicles, during NATO manoeuvres. Not any more, for many years, since the cold war ended and most foreign troops left.
Europe Rearming
But now the issue of militarization is back with a vengeance. Since Crimea rejoined Russia in 2014, NATO has woken up to the supposed “danger” that Russia represents. The Alliance officials and the military are fanning the flames to ensure military budgets finally start increasing again.
US President Donald Trump helped them in this endeavor by urging NATO members to pay their fair share and to respect the 2-percent threshold for military expenses.
The talk of war means billion of euros in investment for the defense industry and its lobbyists.
One of the most acute issues with the defense of Europe is the fact that the continent has significantly improved its civilian transport infrastructure in the last 18 years: motorways, high speed train networks, new airports. The problem is that the military logistics has not caught up.
Military Mobility Plan
The debate over Europe's ability to deploy troops across its territory was launched by the United States and NATO in 2014. EU transport commissioner Violeta Bulc said at a press conference on Wednesday that the quick deployment of troops was a necessity.
Under the Military Mobility Plan unveiled Wednesday, the Commission, the member states…
