On the record

We must become fit for war. We must be able to defend ourselves, and prepare the Bundeswehr and society for that.

„Wir müssen kriegstüchtig werden. Wir müssen wehrhaft sein und die Bundeswehr und die Gesellschaft dafür aufstellen.“

The most quoted line of his tenure. He argued that Germany had grown unused to the idea of war in Europe and needed a change of mentality. The word kriegstüchtig drew criticism from parts of the SPD and the peace movement. See Controversies.

Our experts expect a period of five to eight years in which this could be possible.

On the possibility of a Russian attack on a NATO country, after noting that threats came from the Kremlin almost daily. The remark was widely reported internationally as a warning that Putin could attack NATO within five to eight years.

It is part of an information war that Putin is waging. It is a hybrid disinformation attack.

After Russian state media published a recorded call between senior Luftwaffe officers about Taurus missiles. He added that the aim was division and undermining German unity, and announced an investigation.

The result is not what we had imagined and would have needed.

„Das Ergebnis ist nicht so, wie wir es uns vorgestellt haben und gebraucht hätten.“

To the armed forces, on the draft 2025 budget, which gave the Bundeswehr far less than the additional €6.5 billion he had sought.

… that is not acceptable.

From the main stage of the Munich Security Conference, he responded to US Vice President JD Vance, who had said that the threat that worried him most in Europe came from within rather than from Russia or China. Pistorius said Vance was comparing conditions in parts of Europe with those in authoritarian states, and rejected the comparison.

This paper is denial of reality. It misuses the desire of the people in our country for an end to the terrible war in Ukraine.

Key word in German: „Realitätsverweigerung“

On a manifesto by around a hundred SPD members, led by Rolf Mützenich and Ralf Stegner, calling for a shift towards talks with Russia and away from rearmament.

Arrow 3 enters service: “the outermost layer”

At the declaration of initial operational capability at Holzdorf, he described the system as adding the outermost layer to Germany’s air defence, giving the Bundeswehr for the first time the ability to intercept long-range ballistic missiles aimed at Germany.

The 2027 budget: “much agreement”

After a hearing of the Bundestag defence committee on a 2027 request of nearly €140 billion, including about €30 billion from the special fund, he said MPs had shown much agreement. The Greens, the Left and the AfD opposed the plan.

The drone regiment will complement our innovation ecosystem.

Announcing the army’s first drone regiment at the Bergen training area in Lower Saxony.