After war-mongering Russia under Vladimir Putin has evidently sent drones to Poland, Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner (ÖVP) is not reacting calmly and is not pretending as if nothing happened. On the contrary, she states that Austria must become capable of defense more quickly and also calls for more speed in the implementation of "Sky Shield," the European airspace security.
This is a good thing: Putin is not only threatening Ukraine. He dreams of restoring an empire that corresponds in area to the Soviet Union. Furthermore, he wants to expand the Russian sphere of influence to the entire former Eastern Bloc. This includes, among others, the Baltic states and Poland, and thus a significant part of the EU. This closes a circle: The EU is a community of solidarity. Austria belongs to this community of solidarity. Not least for this reason, one cannot be indifferent to what is happening.
European states that are united, strong, and finally also militarily serious can most likely deter Putin. Too many politicians in Austria have so far only acknowledged this in principle speeches. In practice, however, they have given it too little emphasis.
This also refers to the government to which Tanner belongs: By 2032, the country should become capable of defense, it is said. For this, they want to increase the military budget to ultimately two percent of GDP over the next seven years, they say. However, real provisions are not being made for this. Finance Minister Markus Marterbauer (SPÖ) is trying to consolidate the budget, but he has not yet created the leeway necessary to achieve the two-percent target.
Moreover, it is not just about money and a properly equipped military. Increasing personnel is also essential. And comprehensively so. In this respect, one can only wonder that there is not even a discussion about conscription for women. And this with the justification that it is not an option as long as equality is not achieved. As long as, for example, equal work is paid unequally.
This means that nothing will ever come of what is urgent: The threats Austria is exposed to are numerous. One must reckon with everything, not only with missiles but also with other attacks that could lead to a prolonged blackout, for example.
Realizing this is important to be clear that it would then depend, among other things, on a strong military with many conscripts and aid organizations with just as many civilian service members who would pitch in everywhere to prevent (even) worse. It would be a contribution to comprehensive national defense.
That men and women serve equally is also important because, relative to the total population, there are fewer and fewer young people eligible for this; it is also important because there are more and more older people who need support.
Johannes Huber runs the blog dieSubstanz.at – Backgrounds and analyses on politics
This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.