Germany prepares for war amid rising European tensions

The war of words between the US and Ukrainian presidents at the White House has further heightened tensions between the US and European countries, fueling calls for Europe’s independence. While the UK and France are leading Ukraine-related initiatives, Germany, under its new CDU-led government, is also making plans to take the reins in Europe once again.

For instance, Manfred Weber, leader of the European People’s Party (EPP), the largest group in the European Parliament, has called for Europe to “arm itself independently” and “take the first steps toward a European army.” Green Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has insisted that Germany must now “take the lead” in response to the current French-British initiative regarding the war in Ukraine.

On Saturday, Baerbock called for “clear decisions on major investments in our common European defense capabilities” at the special EU summit scheduled for March 6. More importantly, reports suggest that the CDU/CSU and SPD are preparing new debt programs, potentially amounting to €900 billion, primarily aimed at rearmament.

According to Bild, the CDU/CSU and SPD are preparing not just one but two new financing packages for rearmament at the national level. These will be two special funds modeled after the €100 billion provided by the German government following the Ukraine war. The new plans are based on proposals from four prominent German economists who advocate for a new “special asset for the armed forces” and a second “special asset for infrastructure.”

They propose a volume of €400 billion for the former and €400 to €500 billion for the latter. For comparison, the federal government’s 2025 budget currently anticipates spending of around €489 billion. The term “infrastructure” is considered misleading, as it includes the repair of roads and bridges, at least to the extent necessary for military reasons. Currently, for example, the transport of heavy tanks over bridges is not entirely secure.

According to the report, CDU leader Friedrich Merz is not entirely opposed to reforming the debt brake, as demanded by the SPD. However, the timeline for such reforms remains unclear. For instance, a reform decision could be made before the new Federal Parliament is established at the end of March, as the AfD and Die Linke in the new parliament could block reforms, given that the CDU/CSU and SPD lack the majority needed to amend the constitution.

Meanwhile, Die Linke signaled its support for relaxing the debt brake in a statement yesterday. On X, the party emphasized that it “wants to overcome the debt brake” and ruled out any cooperation with the AfD. Additionally, co-chair Jan van Aken reiterated the party’s stance on the ongoing war in Ukraine, stating, “First, Russia invaded Ukraine, destroyed cities, killed civilians, and took away a country’s future. As soon as Ukraine’s back was against the wall, the US came and tried to take the country’s last raw materials. A country is fighting to survive, and these two world powers are playing their dirty games.”

Aken argued that “a common response is needed against those who want to enforce the law of the jungle” and declared, “Justice is not about choosing between great powers but standing with the oppressed!”