Brandenburg Premier seeks to 'catch up' on defense industry

Brandenburg's state premier, Dietmar Woidke, is actively seeking to bolster the defense industry in eastern Germany, aiming to close a perceived gap with western states. Woidke expressed a desire for more defense companies to establish operations in the East, highlighting the disparity in employment opportunities compared to regions like North Rhine-Westphalia and Bavaria.

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The defense industry in North Rhine-Westphalia or Bavaria has many more jobs than the one in East Germany.

"The defense industry in North Rhine-Westphalia or Bavaria has many more jobs than the one in East Germany," Woidke stated in an interview with "Märkische Allgemeine." He explained that the former German Democratic Republic (GDR) largely lacked its own defense industry, as most military equipment was imported from the Soviet Union. "We want to catch up with this backlog," he added.

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In the former GDR, this industry essentially did not exist because most military goods were imported from the Soviet Union.

Woidke indicated that he currently sees "no red lines" in pursuing these investments, emphasizing the goal of creating sustainable jobs. He envisions Brandenburg producing not only goods relevant to the German armed forces (Bundeswehr) but also items suitable for export. This strategic push aims to stimulate economic growth and create long-term employment in the region.

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We want to catch up with this backlog.