The attack on Ukraine is also a “turning point” for German post-war politics. Chancellor Scholz announces additional billions for the Bundeswehr. The construction of LNG terminals should reduce dependence on Russian gas.
The Bundeswehr is to receive 100 billion euros for investments and armament projects via a special fund. The money will be provided with the federal budget for 2022, announced Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) in the Bundestag. At the same time, he promised that “from now on, year after year, Germany will invest more than two percent of its gross domestic product in our defense.”
Bundeswehr needs “new, strong skills”
In view of the turning point caused by the Russian attack on Ukraine, the Bundeswehr needs “new, strong capabilities,” said Scholz. The benchmark must be that everything is done that is needed to secure peace in Europe. “One thing is clear: we have to invest significantly more in the security of our country in order to protect our freedom and our democracy in this way,” said Scholz. The goal is an efficient, highly modern and progressive Bundeswehr.
He called on all parliamentary groups in the Bundestag to secure the special fund in the Basic Law. Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) wants to present the budget for 2022 to the cabinet on March 9th. Scholz emphasized that the increase in defense spending to two percent of economic output did not just happen because it had been promised to the Allies. “We are also doing this for ourselves, for our own safety.”
Scholz speaks of a turning point
The Chancellor had previously sharply condemned the Russian attack on Ukraine and described it as a far-reaching turning point. “We are experiencing a turning point,” said the SPD politician on Sunday in a special session of the Bundestag. “That means the world after is no longer the same as the world before.” The core of the issue is whether power can break the law and whether Russian President Vladimir Putin can be allowed to turn the clock back to the great powers of the 19th century. “Or whether we can muster the strength to set limits on warmongers like Putin,” emphasized Scholz.
The chancellor reiterated that by invading Ukraine, Putin had cold-bloodedly started a war of aggression. This is happening for a single reason: “The freedom of the Ukrainians calls their own regime of repression into question. It’s inhuman. It’s against international law. Nothing and nobody can justify it.”
In response to the Ukraine war and dependence on Russian natural gas, Scholz also announced the construction of two liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals in Germany. Scholz named Brunsbüttel and Wilhelmshaven as locations in the Bundestag on Sunday.
Source: Stern
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