Germany fears arms independence drive could strain US partnership – The New Voice of Ukraine

Germany fears arms independence drive could strain US partnership  The New Voice of Ukraine

German Defense Ministry briefing warns that rapidly reducing reliance on US weapons could damage Washington ties and industrial cooperation Berlin fears that an overt distancing could harm the partnership and deprive German industry of the opportunity to participate in the production of American weapons. (Photo: U.S. Department of War / Facebook) Germany's Defense Ministry has privately warned that moving too quickly to reduce the country's dependence on American weapons could jeopardize relations with Washington, according to internal briefing materials obtained by Politico. The internal assessment offers an unusually candid look at Berlin's dilemma, the publication reported. Germany receives more than a third of its major arms imports from the United States.

However, doubts about Washington's reliability are growing in some circles within Germany's defense establishment. The briefing warns that openly distancing Germany from the United States could damage the partnership and deprive German industry of opportunities to participate in American weapons production. The materials were prepared ahead of a meeting of the German parliament's defense committee on Wednesday, where lawmakers discussed German-American defense cooperation. The ministry warned that "Germany's publicly expressed desire for autonomy in defense projects is viewed critically by the United States." As a result, the country "cannot afford abrupt changes in course without jeopardizing the partnership." The European Commission wants EU countries to spend at least half