Newly minted Chancellor Friedrich Merz secured a coalition deal this week that opens the door to unlimited defense spending. Now, he faces a far harder task: turning Germany into a military power strong enough to deter Vladimir Putin without U.S. support.
The agreement amounts to a sweeping and historic overhaul of Germany¡¯s approach to defense. It encompasses the creation of a permanent off-budget fund and a new National Security Council. It also includes a firm commitment to its NATO obligations, a major upgrade of Germany¡¯s cyber and intelligence capabilities and the introduction of measures to streamline procurement and integration efforts with the EU. The country has pledged, for the first time since 1945, to build a military capable of defending both national and allied territories.
¡°Germany is back on track,¡± Merz said after the signing. ¡°We will fulfill our obligations in terms of defense.¡±
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