German parliament is set to approve a record-breaking €52 billion (approximately $61 billion) worth of 29 military procurement contracts next week, marking a crucial step in the German government’s efforts to transform the Federal Armed Forces into Europe’s strongest conventional military force.
According to sources familiar with the matter who spoke to
Bloomberg
, these orders encompass a wide range of materials and services, including €22 billion for basic military equipment and clothing, €4.2 billion for the purchase of “American Lion” infantry fighting vehicles, €3 billion for the procurement of the “Arrow-3” anti-air interception missiles and launchers, and €1.6 billion for monitoring satellites.
These sources revealed that this will be the largest-scale order approved by the Lower House Budget Committee of the German Federal Parliament in a single closed-door meeting, setting a record for the highest amount of government procurement. The sources requested anonymity before the official announcement of the news.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Germany has broken decades of fiscal austerity policies and invested billions of euros in strengthening military infrastructure to enhance its defense capabilities.
This military expansion policy, described by former Social Democrat Chancellor Olaf Scholz as a “historic turning point,” has continued to deepen during the tenure of his conservative successor Friedrich Merz, reshaping the European security framework.
During a town hall meeting broadcasted live on the German Public Broadcasting Union (ARD) on Monday evening, Merz reiterated his commitment to building the Federal Armed Forces of Germany into Europe’s strongest conventional military force.
Merz said, “The reason is simple, I emphasize this repeatedly: we desire to have the capability for self-defense, so that we never have to use self-defense measures.” His words were met with applause from the audience.
He added, “The world we live in has fundamentally changed. I hope my children, grandchildren, and their peers can continue to live in freedom and peace, and for this, we must have the capability for self-defense.”
(This article is based on reporting by Bloomberg)