Article written by Pedro Gerhardt Corrêa and Victor Calastri Manzoni
After the Russian attack on Ukraine, Germany decided to drastically increase its defense budget and direct the Bundeswehr (German army) more 100 billions of euros, tripling the current budget and breaking a historic tradition dating back to the end of World War II, when it was imposed on Germany at the end of the war that they would have to reduce the size and strength of their army. In a speech at the Bundestag, Germany's parliament, the prime minister, Olaf Scholz, stated that, to guarantee the freedom and protection of your country, it was necessary to invest in the security of the same, also stating that there is no other answer to President Putin's invasion of Ukraine.
In this way, Germany will achieve NATO's goal of investing 2% of gross domestic product (START) of the country in defense. According to Martin Hurt, of the International Center for Defense and Security, the german action encouraged other countries close to the organization to boost their security spending and set goals to reach the 2%, mainly two Nordic countries: Denmark and Sweden. Even if they're not willing to go that far or that fast, Hurt says that other countries have briefly positioned themselves.
These measures adopted by the German government came as a surprise to members and scholars of security and defense in the country., because, besides being a great economic and military leap, it also conflicts with the tradition agreed at the end of the Second World War of the non-expansion of German warfare.. Another measure that goes against this historic pact was the distribution of weapons to other countries, like Ukraine, but also to third countries, like Estonia and the Netherlands. Thereby, it is possible to see that Germany begins, gradually, a military leadership in Europe again.
However, while the Prime Minister's speech was clamored by the deputies, there were also a number of concerns and criticisms from the government's left. Social Democrat leader, Jessica Rosenthal, said he had no reason to throw billions of euros into a black hole. members of the Greens, who have similar concerns, say the need for greater incentives for the military is a prime example of mismanagement.
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