Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has changed Europe’s security landscape. Being a member of NATO, Germany is expected to be able to defend itself, and to produce more high-tech military equipment such as tanks, submarines, air defense systems, and drones.
Likely next chancellor Friedrich Merz said Tuesday he planned to reform the country’s strict constitutional “debt brake” to pump up defence spending and pursue massive infrastructure investments.
The announcement came just over a week after national elections and with talks underway between Merz’s conservative CDU/CSU bloc and the centre-left Social Democrats to forge a new governing alliance.
The two sides however agreed to try to rush through the changes before a government is formed, as US President Donald Trump’s public falling out last week with Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky added to the sense of urgency in Europe.
Trump’s moves to open direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin have left Europeans feeling their interests could be overlooked in any deal to end the fighting that started with Moscow’s full-scale invasion three years ago.
Germany’s EU partners, who are gathering for a key summit on Thursday to discuss Ukraine and defence, have been waiting for movement from Berlin after months of political paralysis since the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s government in November.
