Thus, bypassing the debt brake, loans from 100 Billions of euros are taken to better equip the armed forces. The federal states voted with the required two-thirds majority for the amendment to the Basic Law. Only Berlin, Bremen, Mecklenburg-West Pomerania and Thuringia, where the left is part of the government, abstained. The Federal Council then also passed the law for the establishment of the special fund, from which the financing is to be provided.

A new article 87a added. He regulates the borrowing for the special fund without the debt brake. The money will be used to buy new planes, helicopters, ships, tanks and ammunition in the coming years. But it is also about equipment such as night vision devices and radios.

Some armament projects have already been started: Among them is the planned purchase of F-35 stealth aircraft and the procurement of 60 heavy transport helicopters of the CH- model F for the air transport of soldiers and material.

Four countries abstained from voting

As the only speaker in the Bundesrat, Bavarias Federal and European Minister Florian Herrmann (CSU) spoke of a "good day for the Bundeswehr and the security of our country". "We are taking a big step towards a powerful Bundeswehr that we can rely on, even given the changed threat situation." On the other hand, the left-wing chairmen of the countries who had voted with abstentions declared: "The additional expenditure that has now been decided to upgrade the Bundeswehr will neither end the dying in Ukraine nor ensure a more peaceful and safer world in the future."

Tanks and aircraft not ready for action

The federal government is reacting to the Russian war of aggression in the Ukraine. Years of savings in the Bundeswehr and its focus on foreign missions have led to the fact that the troops today have significant deficits in national and alliance defense. Tanks, planes and ships are partly outdated or not ready for use. This is also painfully evident when it comes to the delivery of heavy weapons to Ukraine. According to the official statement, the Bundeswehr has hardly anything that it can do without and which it can relinquish.

The Bundeswehr is now to become a fully operational army. Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) announced the massive build-up a few days after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The additional investments should also ensure that Germany meets NATOs two percent target, i.e. invests at least two percent of its economic output in defense, at least on average for several years. (dpa)