Germany says it will step up military role in NATO amid increased uncertainty

PHOTO CAPTION: Reuters photo

BRUSSELS (Reuters) -     NATO can count on Berlin to step up its contribution to the defence of Europe as the Atlantic alliance faces a future more uncertain than 70 years ago when Germany became a member, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said on Monday.

Speaking at a ceremony at NATO's Brussels headquarters to mark the anniversary, Steinmeier sought to reassure allies rattled by what he called epochal geopolitical shifts.

"Today, with (Russian President Vladimir) Putin's war against Ukraine raging on in full force, and with the United States putting fierce pressure on its European allies, Germany is in a crucial position," he said, addressing allies.

"We got the message, you can count on us ... We will strive to make Germany, both its military and its infrastructure, the backbone of conventional defence in Europe." 

In a major turnaround for a country traditionally advocating strict fiscal discipline, Europe's largest economy has approved plans for a massive spending surge as Friedrich Merz prepares to take office as Germany's new conservative chancellor in May.

The fiscal plan includes 500 billion euros ($569 billion) for a special fund for infrastructure and plans to largely remove defence investment from the domestic rules that cap borrowing.

"Up until now, every milestone for Germany, every turning point for the better, has been in some way, one of restraint, of embedding, becoming part of something larger, NATO, for instance, the United Nations, the European Union," Steinmeier said, referring to Germany's fraught past.

"But the tides have turned. Putin has brought war back to this continent... Today, a badly armed Germany is a greater threat to Europe than a strongly armed Germany." 

Berlin's drastic hike in defence spending was triggered by growing concerns that Europe can no longer fully depend on the United States for its defence, following a barrage of criticism from President Donald Trump and members of his administration. 

West Germany joined NATO in 1955 during the Cold War. East Germany became part of the alliance after German reunification in 1990.

 (Reporting by Sabine Siebold; Editing by Gareth Jones)