Eurofighter, transport and tanker aircraft of the Bundeswehr are on their way to Australia. Participation in several exercises is planned there. There is no connection to the conflict over Taiwan, but there is a connection to China's aggressive behavior.
The Air Force has started exercises in Australia for the first time. Six Eurofighters from Tactical Air Force Squadron 74 took off from Neuburg an der Donau and began the flight of around 22,000 kilometers, according to a spokesman. A400M transport aircraft and three A330 tanker aircraft, which took off from Cologne about half an hour before the combat aircraft, are also involved in the laying operation.
In Australia, the Air Force participates in Exercise Pitch Black, which trains air operations, and in the naval exercise Kakadu. Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea are NATO partners in the Indo-Pacific region. Air force visits to Japan and South Korea are also planned.
The transfer exercise takes place in the shadow of tensions around Taiwan, but without a direct connection. Against the background of the more dominant superpower China, the German government has recently also turned its security policy attention to the Indo-Pacific region. In NATO's new strategic concept, China is identified as a challenge.
"We stand by all those who stand for our values such as democracy, freedom and security, and we are prepared to get involved," Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht said. The SPD politician spoke of support for "value allies". "At the moment, of course, the focus is clearly on the eastern flank. This is due to Russia's terrible, brutal war of aggression against Ukraine. But we also have to look at other regions," she said.
