GERMANY TO STEP UP MILITARY ROLE IN NATO – President Steinmeier says Germany will strive to uphold NATO’s regional plans.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier stated today that NATO can count on Berlin to step up its contribution to the defence of Europe as the Atlantic alliance faces a more uncertain future than 70 years ago when Germany became a member,
Speaking at a ceremony at NATO’s Brussels headquarters to mark the anniversary, Steinmeier sought to reassure allies rattled by what he called “epochal” geopolitical shifts.
Germany has approved plans for a massive spending surge as Friedrich Merz prepares to take office as the country’s new conservative chancellor in May.
The fiscal plan includes 500 billion euros ($569 billion) for a special fund for infrastructure and plans to largely remove defence investment from the domestic rules that cap borrowing.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte called these plans “remarkable”.
Berlin’s drastic hike in defence spending was triggered by America insisting that Germany pays it fair share for its own defence.
