{"id":62098,"date":"2019-01-02T23:25:30","date_gmt":"2019-01-02T23:25:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2019\/01\/02\/germany-picks-up-two-thorny-defense-and-diplomacy-assignments-in-2019\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T00:35:17","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T00:35:17","slug":"germany-picks-up-two-thorny-defense-and-diplomacy-assignments-in-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/global\/europe\/2019\/01\/02\/germany-picks-up-two-thorny-defense-and-diplomacy-assignments-in-2019\/","title":{"rendered":"Germany picks up two thorny defense and diplomacy assignments in 2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

COLOGNE, Germany \u2014 Germany begins the new year with two prominent defense and diplomacy assignments: leadership of NATO\u2019s highest-alert combat formation, and a two-year seat on the United Nations Security Council.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The two new responsibilities follow recent pledges by Berlin to play a more active role in global affairs, offering German Chancellor Angela Merkel an instant test to make good on those proclamations during the final years of her tenure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of Jan. 1, Germany is on the hook to provide 5,000 soldiers for NATO\u2019s Very High Readiness Joint Task Force, or VJTF. The formation must be ready to fight wherever it is needed within 48 to 72 hours. Partner nations for this year\u2019s rotation include the Netherlands, Norway, France, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Latvia and Lithuania, bringing the total package to about 8,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A key rationale for the quick-reaction force is to display to Russia the ability to rapidly ferry combat power across Europe<\/a> at a time when speed is believed to be a Russian advantage. European governments are still wary from the 2014 Russian annexation of Ukraine\u2019s Crimea, and more recently from a naval standoff between the two countries in the Sea of Asov. Both incidents fit into a pattern of Russia steering clear of outright war while trying to shake up the post-Soviet order around its borders, according to issue experts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The German Defence Ministry\u2019s logistics planning for the VJTF role takes into account the need to quickly move combat gear if needed. Its acquisition office last month announced a $110 million support contract to ensure rapid access to military rail transport from civilian providers during Germany\u2019s one-year tenure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Bundeswehr, plagued by equipment shortfalls, management problems or both \u2014 depending on who is asked \u2014 has had to dig deep to assemble the needed equipment for the task force lead. In the end, funneling supplies from across the force to the tip of the spear appears to have worked, but it has depleted the readiness of many units, said Christian M\u00f6lling, an analyst with the Berlin-based German Council on Foreign Relations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt means the rest of the Bundeswehr is no longer the kind of deterrent it is meant to be,\u201d he said in an interview.<\/p>\n\n\n\t