Germany's €100-billion army fund: a remarkable change in post-war policy in response to the Ukraine crisis

By Ed Turner, Reader in Politics, Co-Director, Aston Centre for Europe, Aston University

If you’d asked experts just a fortnight ago what the key features of Germany’s approach to foreign and defence policy were, there would have been several strands. Alignment with the west, and of course membership of the EU and Nato would have been a feature. Striving for strong transatlantic links would be another, not least because the country was bruised by its regular, public and bellicose criticism from former president Donald Trump.

But a third strand would have been extreme caution, in its dealings with the EU but especially in defence policy matters. Germany has long preferred…

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