Germany's armaments are changing the balance of power in Europe, diplomats say

Diplomats and analysts warn that Germany is fast becoming Europe's new military power and its large-scale arms build-up is changing the balance of power within the European Union, Politico reports.

Berlin is set to invest up to €153 billion a year in defense by 2029, or 3.5 percent of GDP, the largest increase in military spending since the country's unification.

Bundestag lawmaker Christoph Schmid of the Social Democratic Party said that "the world expects Germany to finally align its economic weight with its defence power". The government is preparing contracts worth 83 billion euros by 2026, to be directed mainly to the domestic arms industry.

French officials, according to Politico, express concern that Berlin will dominate European defence, while Polish politician Pawel Zalewski described the arms build-up as a natural response to the weakening US presence.

(lud)