HAMBURG: German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt warned Thursday that Europe was in a “drone arms race” while sounding the alarm about a hostile Russia.
While he spoke in parliament, the German armed forces launched a three-day exercise dubbed “Red Storm Bravo” in the northern port city of Hamburg meant to simulate NATO troop movements in case of conflict in a Baltic country.
Germany, a strong backer of Ukraine against Russia, has seen a rise in unidentified drone flights over military bases and critical infrastructure in recent months.
Dobrindt, citing hybrid threats and “aggression” from Russia, said Germany was strengthening its “operational capabilities by developing drone defense systems.”
“We are engaged in an arms race between the threat posed by drones and the means to counter them,” he said, citing recent incidents in Poland, Romania, Denmark and Norway.
Dobrindt said Germany would boost investment and change its aviation safety rules to allow it to better “detect, defend and intercept” unmanned aerial vehicles.
Berlin accuses Russia of carrying out sabotage, espionage, surveillance and destabilization operations.
But German authorities have so far been reluctant to shoot down drones for fear that debris could cause casualties.
Drone warfare has been a core feature of the Ukraine conflict and NATO countries bordering Russia hope to build a “drone defense wall” — a network of technological and military solutions to counter these aerial threats.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who took office in May, has announced ambitious plans to build up the armed forces, citing the threat posed by Russia.
The military exercise in Hamburg is set to involve around 500 soldiers as well as police, firefighters and other emergency services, and see a convoy of armored vehicles cross through the city.
“In the fictional exercise scenario of Red Storm Bravo, we assume an escalating conflict in the Baltic region,” said a spokeswoman for the German army, or Bundeswehr. “To achieve effective deterrence, troops and personnel will be deployed through Hamburg.”
Away from public view, a drill will simulate a “mass casualty incident” in a harborside area, local media reported.
Protests under the rallying cry “No War Games in Hamburg,” organized by left-wing groups, are expected outside Hamburg’s city hall on Friday and near the central railway station on Saturday.
Germany says Europe in ‘drone arms race’, citing Russia threat
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Germany says Europe in ‘drone arms race’, citing Russia threat
- Germany has seen a rise in unidentified drone flights over military bases and critical infrastructure in recent months
- Dobrindt, citing hybrid threats and “aggression” from Russia, said Germany was strengthening its “operational capabilities by developing drone defense systems“
Iran war unsettles India’s packaged water makers as bottles, caps get pricey
- Higher polymer prices hurt bottled water industry
- Industry worth $5 billion has big multinational players like Pepsi, Coca-Cola
NEW DELHI: The Iran war is rattling India’s $5 billion packaged water market just ahead of the sweltering summer season.
One of the world’s fastest growing bottled water markets is seeing some manufacturers hike prices for distributors, as supply disruptions linked to the war fuel higher costs in everything from plastic bottles to caps, labels and cardboard boxes.
Though retail prices are yet to feel the heat and bigger companies are absorbing the pain, about 2,000 smaller bottled water makers have increased rates for their resellers by around 1 rupee per bottle, a 5 percent hike, which will rise by a further 10 percent in coming days, according to the Federation of All India Packaged Drinking Water Manufacturers’ Association.
Consumers usually pay less than 20 rupees, or around 20 US cents, for a one-liter bottle.
“There is chaos and within the next 4-5 days, this will start impacting customer prices,” said Apurva Doshi, the federation’s secretary general.
Rising oil prices have increased the cost of polymer, which is made from crude oil and is a key material for the industry’s plastic bottles. The cost of material used in making plastic bottles has risen by 50 percent to 170 rupees per kilogram, while the price of the caps has more than doubled to 0.45 rupees apiece. Even corrugated boxes, labels and adhesive tape are costing much more, industry letters showed.
Clean water is a privilege in the country of 1.4 billion people where researchers say 70 percent of the groundwater is contaminated, leaving people reliant on bottled water. Companies including Bisleri, Coca-Cola’s Kinley, Pepsi’s Aquafina, billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance and Tata all compete for a share of the $5 billion market. The companies did not respond to Reuters request for comment.
PREMIUM WATER FACES HEAT TOO
Within the broad bottled water market, natural mineral water is a $400 million business in India and a new, fast-growing wellness product for India’s wealthy.
The premium water segment accounted for 8 percent of the bottled water market last year in India, compared to just 1 percent in 2021, Euromonitor says.
Aava, which sells mineral water sourced from the foothills of the Aravalli mountains, has increased prices of its water bottles by 18 percent for resellers, Shiroy Mehta, CEO of the company, told Reuters.
“Most manufacturers are absorbing 40-50 percent of the cost to ensure that they don’t lose clients. It’s a poor situation for the beverage industry ahead of the summer season,” he said.
The mass market, however, is dominated by companies that produce “drinking water” to be sold in 1-liter bottles to customers. Clear Premium Water, a brand of India’s Energy Beverages, said in a notice to its distributors there had been an “unprecedented and continuous surge” in prices of key raw materials used in packaging and production.
“It is no longer possible for us to absorb the escalating costs while maintaining existing product prices,” the notice said.
