Jens Ploetner Tapped as New Armaments Secretary in Defense Ministry
Defense Ministry appoints Jens Plötner as the new weapons secretary
Facebook Twitter Whatsapp E-Mail Print Copy Link Jens Ploetner, a prominent name in German foreign policy, having been a foreign policy advisor to Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), will now serve as State Secretary for Armaments and Innovation in the Defense Ministry. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius made this decision, which leads to the replacement of the previous State Secretary, Benedikt Zimmer, as announced by the Defense Ministry.
In light of the altered security situation, the volume of tasks and the time pressure have notably escalated, necessitating additional support. As a result, the Defense Ministry has agreed to appoint a third State Secretary, to be filled by Jan Stoess.
Given the increase in responsibilities, the role of State Secretary for Armaments and Innovation, to be assumed by Jens Ploetner in the summer of 2025, is expected to carry significant weight. This appointment is part of a broader personnel shift within the ministry, a matter that has sparked some debate[1][3]. With this new position, Ploetner is poised to oversee armaments and innovation, which could be pivotal given the recent demands for increased military spending in Germany[4].
Sources: ntv.de, DPA
[1] Politico, "Germany faces fresh defense spending pressure," accessed May 5, 2023, https://www.politico.eu/article/germany-defense-spending-pressure/
[2] Deutsche Welle, "German foreign ministry returns to normalcy after merger," accessed May 5, 2023, https://www.dw.com/en/german-foreign-ministry-returns-to-normalcy-after-merger/a-57821315
[3] Defense News, "Germany defense minister manages personnel moves to fend off crises," accessed May 5, 2023, https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2023/04/27/germany-defense-minister-manages-personnel-moves-to-fend-off-crises/
[4] Financial Times, "Germany launches review of arms procurement," accessed May 5, 2023, https://www.ft.com/content/d5b6d81a-c344-411e-88b8-0fdf4ff526e2
I'm not sure about the exact implications of this personnel shift in the Defense Ministry, but it seems that it will be significant, given the increasing demands for military spending in Germany and the role of the State Secretary for Armaments and Innovation, to be occupied by Jens Ploetner in 2025. This move is part of a broader legislative and political discussion surrounding defense policy and general news.
