Great tasks await the new Secretary of Defense

Berlin In the Bundeswehr, one speaks of cold start capability when it comes to being ready for action almost from a standing start and without a long warning period – if necessary also at the borders of the NATO alliance area. The man who is now to take over the post from Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) in the Berlin Bendler Block must definitely have this cold start ability.

On Thursday, Boris Pistorius, previously Minister of the Interior in Lower Saxony, is to receive his certificate of appointment from Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and swear an oath to serve the Federal Republic faithfully. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is expected in Berlin on the same day. And one day later, Pistorius has to represent Germany at the meeting of the Ukraine contact group at the US air base in Ramstein. Top topic: the delivery of battle tanks, on which the federal government has so far exercised restraint. Training time: zero.