Scholz’s token military gesture won’t undo years of neglect

Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s announcement that Germany is sending weapons and missiles to Ukraine – and is increasing its defence budget to two per cent – marks the mother of all U-turns. But it comes too late, too late for Ukraine. Years of Germany allowing its military to atrophy cannot be done overnight. Compromised by her cosy relations with the tyrant in the Kremlin, open to economic blackmail by being stretched over an oil barrel and a gas pipeline, and guilt-stricken by her Nazi past, today’s Germany is in a very bad place indeed.

Yet you might not realise it from the fawning reaction to Germany’s renewed interest in militarisation. Scholz’s move has been hailed for its decisiveness and bravery, yet in reality he had little choice. Pressure from other members of the Nato alliance was mounting. This was also a shamefaced response to an outburst last week from his country’s top soldier. In one of the most extraordinary statements ever made by an army commander about his own forces.