According to Federal Minister of Finance Christian Lindner, Germany required an army that matched the country’s duty and prominence in Europe.
The goal was to “get one of the most capable, most powerful armies in Europe, one of the best-equipped armies in Europe in the course of this decade, because that corresponds to Germany’s importance, to our responsibility in Europe,” Lindner said.
Germany has previously announced intentions to invest 100 billion euros (112 billion dollars) in a special fund to upgrade its military forces, the Bundeswehr, over the next few years.
According to Lindner, the fund should be protected by basic law from being utilized for other reasons.
Germany’s so-called debt brake, which mandates that federal and state budgets must generally be balanced without borrowing income, was temporarily suspended due to the COVID-19 epidemic, but will resume in 2023.
Even though the new debt would be taken on with the special fund, Lindner emphasized keeping to the timeframe for restoring debt brake compliance.
“In the regular annual budget, the debt brake applies, and all the more we now really have to be careful with every euro,” said the minister.
Christine Lambrecht, Germany’s Minister of Defense, stated the special money made it possible to “establish the Bundeswehr in a strong position and to assume our appropriate role in the alliance as a reliable and capable partner.”
