Germany's military mobilizes: Sunak and Scholz pledge defence unity

German society has not witnessed such a spectacle for a long time. Since February, numerous military convoys have been common on highways and local roads. Adding to the national focus, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak recently visited Berlin.

The uptick in military activity across Germany started in February, triggered by the Steadfast Defender alliance exercises, including their German component, Quadriga. Accustomed to peace, the sight of many military columns was unfamiliar to the German public. General Inspector of the Bundeswehr, Gen. Carsten Breuer, acknowledged that these exercises "will affect the daily lives of German citizens."

The exercises have entered their most intense phase, noticeably affecting the public. Alliance procedures demand swift action, from alert to deployment and positioning of forces, emphasizing the rapid mobilization of large soldier units to operational zones – the Bundeswehr explained.

Similar to protocols during military exercises in Poland, the Bundeswehr's general inspector issued guidelines for civilian behavior upon encountering military vehicles, advising to yield the right of way, exercise heightened caution, and refrain from photographing the convoys.

Military Police, along with traffic regulation units from the Polish Army and in cooperation with the Police, will escort and secure the columns. The regroupings have been orchestrated in coordination with all relevant entities, including local authorities. Careless sharing of images depicting critical military sites or equipment online could jeopardize the security and defense system – the military staff warned.

As a major participant in the manoeuvres, the Bundeswehr committed 12,000 soldiers, 3,000 vehicles, and 30 aircraft to the exercises. These allied exercises brought together 90,000 military personnel from 32 countries, spanning from northern Norway through Poland to Lithuania and Romania, focusing on quick response to alerts and force mobilization. The exercises are set to conclude in May.

It's noteworthy that Germany has pledged to deploy 4,000 Bundeswehr troops to Lithuania to bolster NATO's eastern flank.

On Wednesday, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak visited Berlin. Together with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, they committed to enhancing defence cooperation. The leaders united in the belief that Europe must come together to support Ukraine against Russia for as long as it takes.

In our talks, we've focused on establishing new frameworks for our defense cooperation and accelerating the expansion of our industrial collaboration – Sunak said during a press conference.