This decision was agreed by Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition government this week during negotiations on the proposed federal budget for 2024.
Germany, which gives Ukraine the most aid after the United States in the world and most of Europe, plans to double it next year to 8 billion euros, Bloomberg wrote, citing sources familiar with the matter.
This decision was agreed by Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition government – the Social Democratic Party, of which Scholz is a member, the Free Democrats and the Green Party – this week during negotiations on the proposed federal budget for 2024. Said of the people to Bloomberg on condition of anonymity because the plan has not been made public.
Agency sources believe that if this decision is supported by the German parliament, where Scholz’s coalition has a majority, Germany’s defense spending will exceed the target of 2% of GDP – the amount pledged by the countries NATO to spend on defense.
A spokesman for the German Ministry of Defense declined to comment on information obtained by Bloomberg.
The article notes that Scholz has promised a significant expansion of military capabilities even after the special defense spending fund runs out, as Germany expands its role in NATO’s European hub.
The budget committee of Germany’s lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, is expected to approve an additional 4 billion euros next week, raising Germany’s defense spending to 2.1% of GDP by 2024.
According to the Kiel Institute of World Economics, Germany has given Ukraine more than 17 billion euros in military aid: Leopard 2 main battle tank, Marder armored infantry fighting vehicles, IRIS-T and Patriot missile defense systems, Gepard anti-aircraft guns and multiple rocket launch systems.
Scholz announced 100 billion euros in defense spending three days after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. It is expected that two-thirds of this amount will be allocated by the end of the year. Germany’s defense budget is expected to reach 2% of GDP for the first time in more than three decades.
German purchase plans include Lockheed Martin Corp.’s F-35 fighter jet, Israel’s Arrow air defense system and Boeing Co.’s Chinook heavy-lift helicopter.
Earlier, Bild reported that Germany would double its aid to Ukraine by 2024, citing sources from the German Ministry of Defense.
Journalists noted that initially, German Finance Minister Christian Lindner included only 4 billion euros in the federal budget for 2024 for military aid to Ukraine. However, almost all of the money was earmarked for previously promised projects. The Ministry of Defense has only 120 million euros left for new support.
We remind you that the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Protection will contribute 54.3 million euros to the Energy Support Fund for Ukraine.
Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.