Asia: German fighter planes in the Indo-Pacific zone
A German Eurofighter prepares for takeoff at Neuburg Air Base, Germany, Monday Aug. 15, 2022. A group of German Air Force fighter jets approached Singapore on Tuesday, Aug. 16.
AP - Daniel Karmann
Text by: RFI Follow
1 min
For the first time, the German air force is taking part in multinational exercises in the Indo-Pacific zone.
An approach that reflects Berlin's desire to be more present in this region in the face of a negatively perceived Chinese presence.
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With our correspondent in Berlin,
Pascal Thibaut
“
It is not at all a signal addressed to China
”: the chief of staff of the German air force wanted to dissociate the participation of Eurofighters from the Bundeswehr in the Indo zone -Pacific – a first – of the current tensions between China and Taiwan.
►Read also: After the visit of an American delegation to Taiwan, China relaunches military exercises
Nevertheless: as with the dispatch of a frigate to the region last year, the participation of German fighter planes in multinational exercises in Australia, before short stops in Japan and South Korea on the fall, underlines Berlin's desire to be present in a region where Chinese ambitions are perceived as a threat.
"
This is the largest and most ambitious deployment ever carried out by the Air Force
," said the Bundeswehr, which also wants to prove that it can intervene in different theaters despite the current war in Ukraine.
Noch 06:53:59 - Wir sind gerade wieder am Korb.
Yesterday ein weiteres Erklärvideo dazu.
Wir sind auf dem besten Weg, die 24 Stunden zu schaffen.
@A330_MMU #RapidPacific2022 pic.twitter.com/Wmc5nQ2e0z
— Team Luftwaffe (@Team_Luftwaffe) August 16, 2022
The six Eurofighters mobilize 250 soldiers.
The combat aircraft are accompanied by four A400M military transport aircraft and three A330s for in-flight refueling.
Cooperation with the Bundeswehr in the region seems to be of interest.
Requests were made in Berlin by India, Indonesia and Malaysia for joint military exercises.
►Read again: The EU is strengthening its partnership with the countries of the Indo-Pacific region
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