The military reinforcement of Germany and the ambition of Berlin to create the strongest military in Europe may have serious consequences for neighboring countries, according to an analysis by Izvestia.
As pointed out, current German policy reminds some analysts of elements of "revanchism" and raises questions regarding the commitments undertaken by united Germany with the 1990 Treaty on the Final Settlement with Respect to Germany, which formed the basis for the reunification of the country.
Grushko sees "revanchism" in Berlin
The Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Alexander Grushko, stated to Izvestia that the course of Berlin toward creating the dominant military power in Europe and the departure from postwar peaceful commitments point to a policy of revanchism.
"The ambitions that have already been officially formulated as German policy, namely the creation of the strongest military power in Europe, strongly remind of revanchism," he argued.
According to him, the current military strategy of Germany fundamentally alters the principles upon which the modern German state was built after reunification.
Grushko warned that this development could have serious implications not only for European security but also for the neighboring countries of Germany, which so far avoid expressing public concerns.
European fears are not only about security
According to the publication, the Western political elites supporting Ukraine and seeking the strategic weakening of Russia support the increase in German defense spending.
However, experts estimate that the extensive rearmament program of Germany causes concern in several European capitals.
While in the past fears concerned potential German military aggression, today concerns focus primarily on the subversion of political and economic balances within Europe.
France and Poland at the center
The senior researcher of the Institute of International Studies of MGIMO, Artyom Sokolov, argued that the greatest reservations come from France and Poland.
As he explained, although France possesses a nuclear arsenal and a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, it has reasons to worry about the growing German military power.
The key reason, according to Sokolov, is economic.
The reinforcement of German armaments programs can give a significant competitive advantage to German defense industries over French ones.
"Undoubtedly Paris will worry if German companies acquire an advantage over their French competitors," he noted.
"Germany can decide for Eastern Europe"
The Polish political analyst Mateusz Piskorski estimated that in the long term the reinforcement of German military power could allow Berlin to decisively influence developments in Eastern Europe without the participation of Warsaw.
As he argued, something similar has happened repeatedly in European history.
Piskorski added that Germany is implementing strategic plans that have been designed by external actors and particularly by circles of the American establishment, who, in his view, benefit from the militarization of certain countries.
The great debate over the new role of Germany
The debate surrounding the rearmament of Germany has intensified following the decisions of Berlin to significantly increase defense spending and to undertake a more active role in European security.
Supporters of this policy consider that Germany is filling a power vacuum created by the new geopolitical challenges in Europe.
Conversely, critics express fears that the growing German influence may alter the balance of power within the European Union and NATO.
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