In coordination with Defense Minister Mario Kunasek, the Armed Forces General Staff has now published a position paper to draw attention to the discrepancy between the constitutional mandate to defend the country, the budget situation and the actual state of the Armed Forces.
Austria’s security and defense policy risk picture shows a considerable number of risks that could become comprehensive threats to Austria in various combinations in the short, medium and long term. Chief of General Staff Robert Brieger comments: “A new age of insecurity has dawned, the era of relative peace is over. Austria is also affected by armed conflicts, mass migration, terrorism, cyber threats, hybrid conflicts and threats to livelihoods.” For this reason, the Armed Forces General Staff, in coordination with Defense Minister Mario Kunasek, is now presenting a position paper that draws attention to the discrepancy between the constitutional mandate to defend the country, the budget situation and the real state of the Armed Forces.
General Brieger: “As Chief of the General Staff, I consider it my duty to make a realistic assessment of the situation of the Armed Forces and its foreseeable development based on the budgetary framework conditions. The result is very clear: over the last two decades, the Armed Forces have dramatically moved away from their independent ability to defend the country.” Without suitable countermeasures, according to the appeal, the essential military core capabilities will soon no longer be available due to the obsolescence of almost all important weapon systems. Brieger: “For the first time since its existence, the Austrian Armed Forces are at a crossroads as to whether or not they can still perform their core task as the armed force of the Republic of Austria.”
