Germany To Up Defence Spending in Post-Brexit Europe

Germany will increase its military spending exceeding by 1.2 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) following Britain’s exit from the European Union.

“The decision came as a result of the new terrorist threats and the concerns among eastern European countries from the Russian expansion,” Angela Merkel, German Chancellor said Wednesday.

She added that Germany will never accept Russia’s control on Crimea and its policy that aims to disturb the stability in eastern Ukraine.

Merkel said she will work on fulfilling NATO’s ambitions in raising the military spending of the organization’s member states to 2% of the GDP.

Cologne, Brussels-Hans-Peter Bartels, the parliamentary commissioner for the Armed Forces was quoted as saying to Morgenpost news daily that Germany will handle a bigger responsibility in European military activity following the British decision to exit the European Union.

Bartels said that his country will have more military commitments following Brexit.

The expert in military affairs in the Bundestag sees that the world is witnessing more American-British cooperation and military convergence, and expected the UK to direct its security policies toward the United States. He also expected the UK to become Europe’s partner in the security policy within a few years.

Tobias Lindner, expert of defense affairs in the Green Party agreed with Bartles, and anticipated the Brexit to increase Germany’s military burdens in the EU. He also expected the Union to claim more contribution in its military missions from Germany. Yet, Lindner said that these developments will negatively impact the disarmament policy. He also said that the EU’s military mission will persist with the Brexit, along with the biggest responsibility on Germany.