Ex-Advisor to Scholz Takes Up Role as Secretary of State for Arms - Former advisor to Olaf Scholz, Jens Plötner, appointed as new Defense Secretary
Welcome aboard, Jens Ploetner! The former foreign policy advisor to ex-Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) is gearing up to modernize the Bundeswehr within the Defense Ministry, following his appointment as State Secretary for Armaments and Innovation. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) made the announcement on Wednesday. Expect Ploetner to join the team this summer, with a third State Secretary slot set to be filled by current legal department head, Jan Stoß.
Government Pushes to Strengthen Bundeswehr
Ploetner's responsibilities as Armaments State Secretary include accelerating procurement, advancing key European armaments projects, and integrating cutting-edge innovative technologies. This reflects the government's top security priority - to beef up the Bundeswehr. The ministry already reports record numbers and order volumes, all thanks to the constitutional amendment exempting part of military spending from the debt brake rules.
A Heavyweight Enters the Ring
Ploetner takes over from current Armaments State Secretary Benedikt Zimmer, who's held the position since 2017. As the head honcho in this crucial role, he'll need his A-game to face the challenges ahead.
Stoß, a full lawyer and former head of the legal and organizational department in the ministry, is the one stepping up to the plate as the new deputy. With changes in the security situation and an increase in tasks and time pressure for implementing projects, he'll be under the pump, giving him an insight into the heart of the action.
Jens Ploetner: A Power Player in German Politics and Diplomacy
Ploetner boasts an impressive career in the foreign service, starting in 1994. After completing attaché training in 1996, he held various positions, including Deputy Head of Office to the Minister of State in the German Foreign Ministry and roles in the Political Department of the Embassy in Israel.
In the past, Ploetner served as Ambassador to Sri Lanka (and the Maldives), Ambassador to Tunisia, Head of the Minister's Office under Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and Ambassador to Greece. Most recently, he was Political Director at the Federal Foreign Office from April 2019 to December 2021 and Foreign Policy and Security Advisor to Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
As the new State Secretary for Armaments and Innovation, Ploetner is set to reach new heights in the form of modernizing the Bundeswehr and taking on some of the biggest challenges Germany's defense sector faces today.
In his new role as Armaments State Secretary, Jens Ploetner will focus on accelerating procurement, advancing key European armaments projects, and integrating cutting-edge technologies as part of the government's policy-and-legislation to strengthen the Bundeswehr. Previously serving as Foreign Policy and Security Advisor to Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Ploetner brings extensive experience in politics and diplomacy to the table in addressing war-and-conflicts and implementing changes within the Federal Army.
