Germany to contribute 25,000 soldiers to NATO in major military boost

Germany may deploy an additional five brigades, amounting to 25,000 soldiers, within NATO, according to Defence Minister Boris Pistorius.

“Germany alone will have to provide NATO with five additional brigades with 25,000 soldiers — plus the corresponding armaments — if possible,” Pistorius stated in an interview with German media, per Caliber.Az.

However, he added that “the details have not yet been determined.” The deployment would likely cost several billion euros, which would increase Germany’s defence spending from the current 2% to 3% of GDP.

The announcement comes in the wake of a political dispute within Germany’s leadership. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock walked out of a meeting after Chancellor Olaf Scholz rejected a new military aid package for Ukraine.

 Baerbock had worked with the Defence Ministry for months on the proposal, which included three additional IRIS-T anti-aircraft batteries, guided missiles for Patriot air defence systems, 10 howitzers, and artillery ammunition.

Scholz vetoed the package, which was intended to be finalized before the February 23 Bundestag elections. Baerbock and the Defence Ministry had pushed for the approval of the aid before the elections, but the proposal was blocked by the Chancellor.

By Tamilla Hasanova