German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht resigned on Jan. 16 over public skepticism regarding her efficiency, at a time when the nation’s military is undergoing changes.
“Today, I asked the chancellor to dismiss me from the office of federal minister of defense.” Lambrecht, a member of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democratic Party (SPD), said about her resignation request to Scholz. A spokesperson for Scholz said that Lambrecht’s resignation has been accepted.
The defense ministry is currently under pressure to approve an increase in military aid to Ukraine and after several Puma tanks stopped functioning during a recent drill.
Lambrecht was criticized for not upgrading the aging and dysfunctional German military quickly, even though $100 billion was allocated for that purpose after the war in Ukraine broke out.
Parliamentary Commissioner for the Armed Forces Eva Hoegl, junior defense minister Siemtje Moeller, SPD party head Lars Klingbeil, and Labor Minister Hubertus Heil have been named as potential successors by German media.
The pressure to find a successor quickly is also mounting because U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is expected in Berlin on Jan. 19 and will attend a conference on Jan. 20 at the U.S. military base in Ramstein to discuss further support for Ukraine.
“The chancellor respects the decision by Ms. Lambrecht and thanks her for her good work in these difficult and challenging times,” Christiane Hoffmann, a government spokesperson, told reporters in Berlin.
Lambrecht said that the media’s focus on her didn’t let a factual debate about the military and security policy take place.
Lambrecht had served as minister of defense since the start of Scholz’s term as chancellor in December 2021. Scholz has supported her amid the criticism, calling her a “first class defense minister.”
Germany has recently agreed to provide Ukraine with Marder infantry fighting vehicles and train Ukrainian forces to use the provided systems, according to an official U.S. statement after the two countries’ leaders had a phone call on Jan. 5.
On Dec. 29, 2022, Biden signed the $1.7 trillion omnibus spending package that includes $45 billion in additional aid for Ukraine. The aid announced on Jan. 5 represents the first part of the package.
Scholz is now under pressure to deliver Leopard 2 battle tanks to Ukraine.
Germany has given Ukraine substantial support in recent months, including howitzers, Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns, and the first of four IRIS-T surface-to-air missile systems. But critics, some inside Germany’s governing coalition, have complained of Scholz’s perceived hesitancy to step up aid.
