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The Hill
11-07-2025
- Business
- The Hill
Germany promised to double defense spending — now it must deliver
During the final two decades of the Cold War, many observers considered the West German military, the Bundeswehr, to be the most capable land force among the European NATO allies. Highly professional and extremely well trained, the German land forces, like the entire German military, benefitted from defense expenditures that by 1988 amounted to more than 3 percent of the country's GDP. And with an economy that was the largest in western Europe, West German defense spending was greater than that of all other NATO members, apart from the U.S., the U.K. and Turkey. The end of the Cold War resulted in a precipitous decline in defense expenditures on the part of a now-united Germany. Faced with the need to integrate the population of the former East Germany into its extremely generous welfare system, and with no clear threat to its security, Berlin's spending dropped below 2 percent in 1992 and continued to fall until it reached a low of 1.07 percent in 2005. The following year, at its Riga summit, NATO formally agreed that member states would commit to spending 2 percent of GDP on defense. German spending rose that year — but only to 1.2 percent. The paucity of German spending on defense manifested itself in the increasingly poor state of German military readiness. By 2010, the German Army's once-vaunted Leopard tanks were suffering from low availability, as significant numbers were in storage or maintenance. The Air Force's Tornado and Eurofighter aircraft were suffering from shortages of spare parts. The German fleet was aging, with few replacements and limited deployments. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates likely had Germany in mind when in 2011 he told his NATO colleagues that 'if current trends in the decline of European defense capabilities are not halted and reversed, future U.S. political leaders — those for whom the Cold War was not the formative experience that it was for me — may not consider the return on America's investment in NATO worth the cost.' Even Russia's seizure and annexation of Crimea in 2014, and NATO's reaffirmation of its 2 percent goal at the Wales summit that year, hardly made an impression on German defense spending. Indeed, it took five more years for defense spending to rise to just slightly above 1.25 percent. Only after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 did the trajectory of German spending begin to change. Five days after the Russian invasion, German Chancellor Olof Scholz — in what came to be called his 'Zeitenwende' or 'turning point' speech to the Bundestag — announced that his government would 'set up a special fund for the Bundeswehr' with 'a one-off sum of 100 billion euro for the fund. We will use this money for necessary investments and armament projects.' He added that 'we will now — year after year — invest more than 2 percent of our gross domestic product in our defense.' Germany indeed hit the 2 percent mark early in 2024 and it will reach 2.4 percent this year. Scholz's successor, Friedrich Merz, elected in May after the Scholz government was defeated in the December 2024 election, announced an even sharper jump in German defense spending, thanks to a constitutional reform that will allow government borrowing above the previous rate of 0.35 percent of GDP. Three weeks ago, Merz committed Germany to more than double its defense spending by 2029, thereby reaching NATO's new target of 3.5 percent of GDP ahead of almost all the other European NATO allies. Merz's initiative is certainly welcome, but it is not clear that he will be able to follow through on his promises. The German public remains deeply concerned about Russia's ongoing aggression against Ukraine, and thus far does not appear to have responded negatively to the government's plans. Nevertheless, even with less restrictive constraints on government borrowing, Merz may find it difficult to maintain the generous social welfare regime that Germans have benefitted from for decades. Any cutbacks or modification of those benefits could spur a popular backlash against the planned defense increases. Moreover, the fact that Germany is expected to continue to purchase U.S. defense products — currently totaling at least $15 billion — at a time when America is extremely unpopular throughout western Europe may intensify that backlash. Whether the fledgling Merz government will have the fortitude to withstand popular pressure over the next several years is an open question. Hopefully it will, because Germany, once NATO's fulcrum in central Europe, will remain critical to the credibility of the alliance's deterrent against a Russia whose appetite for swallowing up its neighbors continues to appear insatiable. Dov S. Zakheim is a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and vice chairman of the board for the Foreign Policy Research Institute. He was undersecretary of Defense (comptroller) and chief financial officer for the Department of Defense from 2001 to 2004 and a deputy undersecretary of Defense from 1985 to 1987.
Time of India
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
The G-7 was a great idea — until it became one against six
Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Fifty years ago, it seemed like such a good idea. At the initiative of the West German and French leaders, the six leading industrialized democracies convened their first regular meeting to manage a troubled world — problems included the collapse of the Bretton Woods system, the oil shocks and stagflation. They later became the Group of Seven, then briefly 8, then 7 again. But as this club concludes its latest summit in the Canadian Rockies by defining success merely as avoiding a rage quit by the American guest, one wonders: What's the point anymore?The world is on fire from eastern Europe to the Middle East and beyond, and the G-7 leaders are at odds over how to analyze, let alone solve, any of these conflicts. French President Emmanuel Macron and others want Israel to desist from further escalation against Iran. US President Donald Trump may not have wanted Israel to attack Iran while his own envoy was trying to negotiate a deal with Tehran, but now that the war is underway he seems fine with Israel finishing the also intends to recognize Palestine as a sovereign state. By contrast, Trump's ambassador to Israel told Bloomberg that the US no longer believes in a two-state solution, not even in the long discord over the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine has even deeper roots. Trump promised to end it in a single day but, five months into his second term, has all but walked away from even trying. The blame belongs to Russian President Vladimir Putin (who once was the 8th summiteer in the group, until he was kicked out for annexing parts of Ukraine in 2014). Putin shows no interest in good-faith negotiations and adroitly strings Trump along — the two just had another call, after which Trump even suggested (to Macron's horror) that Putin might mediate the Israel-Iran Trump wavers in supporting Ukraine, the Europeans understand that they need to step up; they are urging much harsher sanctions against Russia. In that demand, they have backers in the US Congress, even among Republicans. But Trump, so far, has other hardly a secret to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who does not represent a G-7 nation but is again on the guest list, along with leaders from the Global South such as South Africa's Cyril Ramaphosa. Both men were recently humiliated by Trump in reality-TV-inspired ambushes at the White House — Trump in effect accused his South African guest of presiding over genocide against White host, Canada's Mark Carney, survived his own visit to the White House relatively unscathed but owes his election largely to his promise to Canadians to resist one of Trump's most outlandish taunts: his repeated threat to annex Canada as America's 51st state. Apropos outlandish threats: Macron none-too-subtly traveled to Canada via Greenland, to show support for that Danish territory, which Trump also this and more is happening against the backdrop of the trade wars that Trump has launched against his fellow summiteers and other guests (Mexico's leader is also invited). Coordinating a harmonious and open global monetary and commercial regime was the original purpose of these annual summits. Now the best that the six non-American participants can hope for is to talk Trump out of his worst protectionist impulses before even more draconian trade barriers snap into action next month.Déjà vu all over again, you might shrug. After all, Trump already disrupted a G-7 meeting in Canada once. That was in 2018, when he balked at signing the joint communique — the ritual common statement produced at the end of a summit — and for good measure called his host, Carney's predecessor Justin Trudeau, 'dishonest and weak.'At the time the G-7 could still write off the drama as a breach of decorum rather than the beginning of its own demise. That is becoming harder. (NATO, which holds its summit next week, is nervous for the same reason.) The underlying issue is that Trump doesn't share the values of the other six democracies and no longer has any checks on his whims. To the extent that the G-7 used to embody 'the West,' that common basis is a summit in these circumstances is 'like preparing the red carpet for Godzilla,' one Canadian official told the Financial Times. Nobody expected agreement on anything of has even scrapped the formality of trying to issue a joint communique at the end of the meeting. As it happens, Trump didn't even stick around that this is great news if you're watching from Moscow or Beijing. Chinese leader Xi Jinping, in particular, probably delights as the formerly US-led West dissolves in slow motion, just as he tries to rally other blocs under China's hegemony — while the G-7 summit is in progress, he's visiting Kazakhstan for meetings with central Asian don't be confused by a few press releases from the scenic Kananaskis Valley, touting a tariff reversed here or a new investment pledged there. Carney can claim a success because Trump left before he could embarrass any of his counterparts. But these summits have outlived their context. They were made for a world in which America led and like-minded allies helped in striving for global stability and shared prosperity. That era is gone. So is the reason for having the G-7 at all.
Local Germany
12-06-2025
- Business
- Local Germany
How you can challenge Germany's controversial property tax on your home
Following a major reform to Germany's property tax rules as of the beginning of this year, millions of land- and homeowners are challenging the amount of property tax they owe. Why were the property tax rules changed? Germany's old rules around property tax ( Grundsteuer ) had been ruled unconstitutional in 2018. The Federal Ministry of Finance explains on its website that is was because the old tax code treated similar properties differently (depending on the region) and therefore violated the principle of equal treatment, which is protected by Basic Law. The primary change to the rules that impacts homeowners is that the valuation of properties has been updated. Until the end of 2024 property valuations were based on decades old standard values – these were established in 1964 for properties in former West German states and as far back as 1935 in former East German states. Property valuations have now been reassessed, as of January 1st, 2022. Additionally, a law was added that allows cities to increase the assessment rate on undeveloped plots of land. This was intended to disincentivise speculation on land that might otherwise be developed. In simple terms, the rule reform has seen properties revalued, and for many homeowners in Germany it brought a significant increase in the property tax they owe going forward. REVEALED: Where buyers can find the most property for sale in Germany Widespread objections across Germany But many homeowners do not agree with the property tax increases, and some argue that the new assessments are unfair. Since new valuation assessments were sent out, millions of property owners have appealed. According to a report by Focus Online, 1.4 million objections were received by the tax offices in Baden-Württemberg – meaning that nearly 30 percent of homeowners in the southwestern state feel their assessment was incorrect or unjustified. Advertisement The situation is similar in other German states as well. SWR reported 1.5 million objections in North Rhine-Westphalia, 1.3 million in Bavaria and 440,000 in Rhineland-Palatinate. How you can contest the property tax Generally, to challenge your property tax obligations in Germany you need to contest the property tax assessment, which is sent in the mail by your local tax office. This needs to be done, in writing or with a visit to the tax office, and usually within one month from receipt of the assessment. After you've filed the objection, you have two months to submit a detailed justification, including any evidence you have to support your claim. If the objection is rejected, you can then file a lawsuit with the Fiscal Court within one month of receiving the rejection notice. Regarding the new property tax rules, the homeowners' association Haus & Grund has taken up the issue and is bringing a number of legal challenges against the new property tax. READ ALSO: What Germany's tax authorities need to know if you rent out your home In a post on the association's website it lists several reference numbers for ongoing cases, and suggests that owners can refer to the ongoing lawsuits and file their own objections. The cases, which were filed with courts in Berlin-Brandenburg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Cologne and Düsseldorf, argue that the new property tax rules violate the principle of equality of the Basic Law. Advertisement The cases will force German courts to clarify whether the new property tax rules are compatible with the law. They are expected to go all the way to the Federal Constitutional Court. It will likely be several years before the cases are decided, but if you want to seek compensation for paying excessive property tax from now on, you should file an objection now. If you do intend to bring a lawsuit forward, you'd be advised to seek legal counsel from a homeowners' association like Haus & Grund or similar or a lawyer. Note that this article is written for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as legal advice.
DW
06-06-2025
- Politics
- DW
US-German relations – DW – 06/06/2025
Donald Trump's presidency is testing the bond between Germany and the US, which have been close allies for decades. After the end of World War II, the West German government aligned itself with the United States during the Cold War, joining NATO in 1955. Since then, Germany has been among Washington's closest diplomatic allies. Donald Trump's first term as president led to then-Chancellor Angela Merkel expressing doubts about the future of this transatlantic relationship. Trump's election to a second term has driven even more of a wedge between the two countries, and current Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said that he wishes to make Germany 'independent' from the US.
UPI
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- UPI
On This Day, May 28: Rebels storm palace ending Ethiopian civil war
1 of 8 | A local resident walks past a battle tank stranded outside the Ethiopian Presidential Palace in Addis Ababa on June 9, 1991, following a battle between rebel forces and the government. On May 28, 1991, Ethiopian rebels seized the presidential palace and tightened their control of the capital of Addis Ababa, effectively ending a 16-year civil war. File Photo by Master Sgt. Ed Boyce/U.S. Department of Defense On this date in history: In 1892, the Sierra Club was founded by naturalist John Muir. In 1934, the Dionne sisters, Emilie, Yvonne, Cecile, Marie and Annette, first documented set of quintuplets to survive, were born near Callander, Ontario, and soon became world-famous. Emilie died in 1954, Marie in 1970 and Yvonne in 2001. File Photo courtesy of Library and Archives Canada In 1961, lawyer Peter Berenson published an article in The Observer about political and religious prisoners, forming the basis for what would become Amnesty International two months later in London. The organization won the Nobel Peace Prize for its work supporting people imprisoned because of their race, religion or political views. In 1977, a flash fire swept through a nightclub in Southgate, Ky., -- called the Beverly Hills Supper Club -- killing 162 people and injuring 30. In 1987, West German Mathias Rust, 19, flew a single-engine plane from Finland through Soviet radar and landed beside the Kremlin in Moscow. Three days later, the Soviet defense minister and his deputy were fired. In 1991, Ethiopian rebels seized the presidential palace and tightened their control of the capital of Addis Ababa, effectively ending a 16-year civil war and wresting power from a crumbling Marxist government that ruled the country with an iron hand for 17 years. In 1998, actor and comedian Phil Hartman, known for his roles on Saturday Night Live and News Radio, was killed by his wife, Brynn Hartman. The Los Angeles County Coroner's Office determined Brynn Hartman had cocaine, alcohol and an anti-depressant drug in her system at the time of the murder-suicide. In 1998, Pakistan conducted an underground nuclear test despite condemnation from many countries and the imposition of U.S. economic sanctions. In 2000, Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori easily won a runoff election but nationwide demonstrations against him continued. He resigned in September. File Photo by Ricardo Watson/UPI In 2002, NASA said the Mars Odyssey found evidence of ice on Mars. "We were hopeful that we could find evidence of ice, but what we have found is much more ice than we ever expected," a scientist said. In 2008, Nepal's newly elected Constituent Assembly voted to dissolve the 239-year-old monarchy and form a republic, officially ending the reign of King Gyanendra. In 2014, author-poet-activist Maya Angelou (I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings) died in Winston-Salem, N.C. U.S. President Barack Obama called Angelou, who was 86, "one of the brightest lights of our time." In 2023, doctors at NYU Langone Health completed the first whole eyeball transplant in a man who sustained devastating injuries to his face in an electrical shock. The lineman, Aaron James, also received a partial face transplant. In 2024, the Vatican issued an apology on behalf of Pope Francis after he used a homophobic slur during a meeting with the Italian Bishops Conference about admitting gay men into the seminary. File Photo by Stefano Spaziani/UPI
