Guns instead of butter: Germany in crisis, but spends billions on war

German lawmakers approved about €2.5 billion ($2.6 billion) worth of weapons and equipment orders for the armed forces in the last regular parliamentary session before the snap election on Feb. 23, Bloomberg reports.

The purchase includes part of a new €1.8 billion communication system for the Bundeswehr, €417 million in infantry supplies, and around €100 million for anti-tank arms and a weapon station, according to people familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified.

The procurement is part of the rearmament push that the government led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz initiated after Russia’s attack on Ukraine. It is being financed by an off-budget special fund of around €100 billion, the majority of which has already been earmarked.

Defense Minister Boris Pistorius described the purchases as “important” in comments earlier Wednesday before a visit to the defense committee of the lower house of parliament in Berlin.

The Budget Committee, which has to sign off on all military purchases in excess of €25 million, also approved state guarantees to help Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems win a €4.1 billion contract to build three Type 209 submarines for Argentina, as well as replacement parts and training.

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