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Al-Ahram Weekly
07-06-2025
- Business
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Germany has three years to overhaul military: Official - War in Ukraine
Germany's armed forces have three years to acquire the equipment to tackle a possible Russian attack on NATO territory, the head of military procurement said Saturday. Defence spending has risen up the political agenda since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and more recently with the United States pushing NATO members to increase their commitments. "Everything necessary to be fully prepared to defend the country must be acquired by 2028," Annette Lehnigk-Emden, head of the Federal Office for Military Procurement, told Tagesspiegel newspaper. Chief of defence General Carsten Breuer recently warned that Russia could be in a position to "launch a large-scale attack against NATO territory" as early as 2029. He said there was a Russian build-up of ammunition and tanks for a possible attack on NATO's Baltic members. Lehnigk-Emden stressed that Chancellor Friedrich Merz's new government was enabling the upgrade by allocating hundreds of billions of euros for defence. She said the priority would be for heavy equipment such as Skyranger anti-aircraft tanks. Merz has made rearmament a priority of his coalition government to make it "the most powerful conventional army in Europe". Rearmament had already begun under the previous government of Olaf Scholz after Russia launched its war in Ukraine. And US President Donald Trump has raised the temperature further this year by pushing NATO members to increase their defence spending to five percent of GDP from the current level of two percent. Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said on Thursday that 50,000 to 60,000 new soldiers would be needed in the coming years to meet the increased defence needs of NATO. Last year, the army had more than 180,000 soldiers and set a goal of exceeding 203,000 by 2031. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Local Germany
07-06-2025
- Business
- Local Germany
Germany has three years to overhaul military: official
Defence spending has risen up the political agenda since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and more recently with the United States pushing NATO members to increase their commitments. "Everything necessary to be fully prepared to defend the country must be acquired by 2028," Annette Lehnigk-Emden, head of the Federal Office for Military Procurement, told Tagesspiegel newspaper. Chief of defence General Carsten Breuer recently warned that Russia could be in a position to "launch a large-scale attack against NATO territory" as early as 2029. He said there was a Russian build-up of ammunition and tanks for a possible attack on NATO's Baltic members. Lehnigk-Emden stressed that Chancellor Friedrich Merz's new government was enabling the upgrade by allocating hundreds of billions of euros for defence. She said the priority would be for heavy equipment such as Skyranger anti-aircraft tanks. Merz has made rearmament a priority of his coalition government to make it "the most powerful conventional army in Europe". Advertisement Rearmament had already begun under the previous government of Olaf Scholz after Russia launched its war in Ukraine. And US President Donald Trump has raised the temperature further this year by pushing NATO members to increase their defence spending to five percent of GDP from the current level of two percent. Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said on Thursday that 50,000 to 60,000 new soldiers would be needed in the coming years to meet the increased defence needs of NATO. Last year, the army had more than 180,000 soldiers and set a goal of exceeding 203,000 by 2031.
Express Tribune
21-03-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Germany approves €3b in new military aid for Ukraine
The new package includes three IRIS-T air defence systems, three Skyranger units, 10 howitzers, 20 armoured vehicles, drones, and a large quantity of artillery and surface-to-air Germany has approved €3 billion ($3.25 billion) in additional military aid for Ukraine, a parliamentary committee source confirmed on Friday, just hours after a sweeping defence and infrastructure spending bill cleared its final legislative hurdle. The new funding is earmarked for artillery munitions, air defence systems, and other military equipment to bolster Ukraine's defence against Russian aggression. The announcement comes as part of a broader shift in Germany's defence policy, led by incoming Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The conservative CDU/CSU alliance, in coalition with the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the Greens, has agreed to amend Germany's stringent "debt brake" rules to allow for increased defence spending. 'Germany is back,' Merz declared during a press briefing in Berlin on Thursday. 'Germany is making its large contribution to the defence of freedom and peace in Europe.' Merz introduced the expanded defence budget earlier this month, seeking parliamentary approval before the new Bundestag convenes on March 25. The budget vote is expected to take place on March 18, with the ruling coalition's combined support ensuring the necessary two-thirds majority. Outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz has signalled that the additional Ukraine aid will be released upon parliamentary approval of the budget. This latest aid package brings Germany's total military support for Ukraine this year to €7 billion ($7.2 billion), making Berlin one of Kyiv's most significant backers in Europe. According to Süddeutsche Zeitung, the new package includes three IRIS-T air defence systems, three Skyranger units, 10 howitzers, 20 armoured vehicles, drones, and a large quantity of artillery and surface-to-air missiles. Meanwhile, Italy and Spain have expressed hesitation over backing a broader European Union initiative to increase military aid to Ukraine, highlighting divisions within the bloc over defence contributions. The recalibration of Germany's security posture comes amid a wider European reassessment of defence policy, driven in part by the uncertain trajectory of U.S. foreign policy under President Donald Trump. The next Bundestag, however, is expected to include a significant presence from the far-right AfD and the leftist Die Linke, both of which oppose continued military aid to Ukraine.
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Germany on track to commit $3.2 billion in military aid to Ukraine, Merz says
A German parliamentary coalition has agreed to allocate 3 billion euros (approximately $3.2 billion) in new military aid to Ukraine as part of a plan to dramatically scale up Berlin's defense spending, incoming chancellor Friedrich Merz announced on March 14. Merz presented his ambitious spending plan to lawmakers in early March, saying he hoped to secure approval for the military aid under the current, outgoing parliament. A coalition of Merz's conservative Christian Democratic allliance (CDU/CSU), the Social Democratic Party (SPD), and the Green Party have agreed to reform Germany's "debt brake" rules and increase defense spending, Merz said in Berlin on March 14. Their combined backing gives Merz the necessary two-thirds support to secure approval when the budget is up for a vote on March 18. "Germany is back," Merz said. "Germany is making its large contribution to the defense of freedom and peace in Europe." Outgoing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has confirmed that he will release the additional aid to Ukraine once parliament approves the defense spending package, Merz told reporters. Merz's ambitious plans for Germany's defense budget have taken shape amid a wider shift in European security policy. The continent is moving to rearm and assume greater responsibility for Ukraine's defense amid abrupt changes in U.S. foreign policy under President Donald Trump. Germany's next parliament is due to convene on March 25. Roughly one-third of the seats will be held by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the Left Party (Die Linke), both of which oppose military aid for Ukraine. Germany has allocated 4 billion euros ($4.1 billion) in military support for Ukraine this year, and the additional package would raise this to 7 billion ($7.2 billion). The defense articles contained in the new assistance include three IRIS-T air defense systems, three Skyranger air defense systems, 10 howitzers, surface-to-air missiles, 20 protective vehicles, artillery shells, and drones, the Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper reported in January. Read also: 'I can't sit and watch it' – US volunteers join Ukrainian army after Trump's sharp policy turn We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Merz seeks to quickly push through $3.2 billion in German aid for Ukraine
Friedrich Merz, Germany's likely next chancellor, said he wants a defense aid package for Ukraine worth roughly 3 billion euros ($3.2 billion) approved by the current, outgoing parliament, Le Monde and AFP reported on March 4. Speaking at a press conference, Merz said he plans to raise the issue with outgoing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who has opposed the package unless funded by additional government borrowing. Germany's incoming chancellor has presented extensive plans to reform debt break rules to boost defense spending as Europe is expected to take more responsibility for its security and Ukraine during the U.S. presidency of Donald Trump. Merz's conservative CDU/CSU alliance won the parliamentary elections on Feb. 23 with almost 29% of the vote. The Christian Democrats are in talks with Scholz's Social Democratic Party (SPD) on forming a new government, though the outgoing chancellor said he would not be personally part of the coalition negotiations. Germany has allocated 4 billion euros ($4.1 billion) in military support for Ukraine this year, and the additional package would raise this to 7 billion ($7.2 billion). The defense articles contained in the new assistance include three IRIS-T air defense systems, three Skyranger air defense systems, 10 howitzers, surface-to-air missiles, 20 protective vehicles, artillery shells, and drones, the Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper reported. According to Merz, the additional aid "can be approved now as off-budget expenditure." The CDU chairman has also unveiled plans for a massive defense spending boost, establishing a 500-billion-euro ($535 billion) special development and defense fund and exempting defense spending above 1% of GDP from debt break rules. As changes to debt break rules need support from two-thirds of the parliament to pass, Merz hopes to negotiate the bills' passage with pro-Ukraine moderate parties in the current Bundestag as quickly as possible. In the next parliament, which must convene no later than March 25, Merz could expect stronger opposition. Roughly one-third of the seats will be held by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the Left Party (Die Linke), both of which oppose military aid for Ukraine. Germany has been Ukraine's second-largest military donor after the U.S. Berlin's role is especially important now that the Trump administration has frozen defense assistance for Ukraine, seeking to push Kyiv to the negotiating table. Read also: Taurus missiles, stronger Europe — what can Ukraine hope for after German elections We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
