Germany prepares to buy 2,500 pieces of equipment for new NATO brigades
Germany could buy up to 2,500 units of equipment for new NATO brigades, according to media reports. The project will cost up to $29.4 billion.
According to RIA Novosti on July 5, Bloomberg quoted a close source as saying that Germany is considering the possibility of buying up to 2,500 armored vehicles and 1,000 tanks for the brigades requested by NATO. This huge procurement plan is worth up to 25 billion euros (about 29.4 billion dollars).
"Germany is considering the possibility of buying up to 2,500 armored vehicles and 1,000 battle tanks to form new NATO brigades" – Bloomberg said.
Leopard 2 tanks and GTK Boxer armored vehicles are being considered for the new brigades, according to Bloomberg. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and senior Bundeswehr officials are reviewing the plans, which are expected to be approved by the legislature later this year.
Germany is facing pressure from NATO and Washington to fulfill its alliance commitments, including a new pledge adopted at the recent NATO Summit to spend at least 5% of GDP on defense by 2035.
Earlier, Reuters reported that NATO will ask Germany to provide 7 more brigades or 40,000 troops to defend the alliance. NATO plans to increase the number of brigades that member countries will have to provide for defense purposes by about 50% - from 80 brigades to 120-130 brigades.
The increase reflects growing concern among allies about Russia. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has vowed to make his country's armed forces the strongest in Europe, to counter the growing threat from Russia.
Meanwhile, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said he hoped the US would be “flexible” to give Ukraine the resources to defend itself after Washington suddenly stopped some arms aid deliveries to Kiev.
