Latest news with #Merz
Yahoo
39 minutes ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Germany prepares huge orders for jets, armored vehicles, sources say
BERLIN (Reuters) -Germany is preparing a wave of multi-billion-euro procurement orders, including 20 Eurofighter jets, up to 3,000 Boxer armoured vehicles, and as many as 3,500 Patria infantry fighting vehicles, two sources familiar with the plans told Reuters. The purchases are part of Chancellor Friedrich Merz's push to build Europe's most powerful conventional army, aiming to reduce reliance on an increasingly unpredictable ally, the United States, and take greater responsibility for European security. Earlier this year, Merz secured the parliamentary backing needed to exempt defence spending from Germany's constitutionally enshrined debt limits, enabling his government to finance the military overhaul. Germany's regular defence budget is projected to rise to around 83 billion euro ($95.8 billion) in 2026, up by 20 billion from 2025. The Eurofighter order alone is expected to cost between 4 billion and 5 billion euro, the sources said, while the Boxer vehicles — built by KNDS and Rheinmetall — are estimated at 10 billion euro. The Patria vehicles are seen costing roughly 7 billion euro. Deliveries of the Boxer and Patria platforms are expected over the next 10 years, according to the sources. The defence ministry is also advancing plans to purchase more IRIS-T air defence systems and several hundred SkyRanger drone defence platforms, the sources said, noting that financial details for those acquisitions have yet to be finalised. Bloomberg also reported on the procurement plans, though citing some differing figures. The defence ministry did not immediately reply to a request for comment. Merz has pledged to meet NATO's new benchmark of spending 3.5% of GDP on defence by 2029 - well ahead of most alliance members. But Germany also has more catching up to do. Hours after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the chief of the German army publicly vented his frustration over the long-running neglect of military readiness in his country, saying the Bundeswehr was "standing there more or less empty-handed." ($1 = 0.8661 euros)
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Automotive
- Straits Times
Germany prepares huge orders for jets, armored vehicles, sources say
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: A Boxer armoured transport vehicle manoeuvres on the day arms manufacturer Rheinmetall hands the first one over to the German armed forces Bundeswehr, in Unterluess, Germany, May 2, 2024. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer/File Photo BERLIN - Germany is preparing a wave of multi-billion-euro procurement orders, including 20 Eurofighter jets, up to 3,000 Boxer armoured vehicles, and as many as 3,500 Patria infantry fighting vehicles, two sources familiar with the plans told Reuters. The purchases are part of Chancellor Friedrich Merz's push to build Europe's most powerful conventional army, aiming to reduce reliance on an increasingly unpredictable ally, the United States, and take greater responsibility for European security. Earlier this year, Merz secured the parliamentary backing needed to exempt defence spending from Germany's constitutionally enshrined debt limits, enabling his government to finance the military overhaul. Germany's regular defence budget is projected to rise to around 83 billion euro ($95.8 billion) in 2026, up by 20 billion from 2025. The Eurofighter order alone is expected to cost between 4 billion and 5 billion euro, the sources said, while the Boxer vehicles — built by KNDS and Rheinmetall — are estimated at 10 billion euro. The Patria vehicles are seen costing roughly 7 billion euro. Deliveries of the Boxer and Patria platforms are expected over the next 10 years, according to the sources. The defence ministry is also advancing plans to purchase more IRIS-T air defence systems and several hundred SkyRanger drone defence platforms, the sources said, noting that financial details for those acquisitions have yet to be finalised. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Business No clarity yet on baseline or pharmaceutical tariffs with US: DPM Gan Singapore Grace Fu apologises for Tanjong Katong sinkhole, says road may stay closed for a few more days Opinion Nobel Prize? Maybe not, but give Asean credit for Cambodia-Thailand ceasefire Singapore Facts and myths intersect at the National Museum's new glass rotunda installation Singapore Liquidators score victory to recoup over $900 million from alleged scammer Ng Yu Zhi's associates Multimedia Making a splash: Picture-perfect moments from the World Aquatics Championships in S'pore Singapore Terrorism threat in Singapore remains high, driven by events like Israeli-Palestinian conflict: ISD Singapore S'pore can and must meaningfully apply tech like AI in a way that creates jobs for locals: PM Wong Bloomberg also reported on the procurement plans, though citing some differing figures. The defence ministry did not immediately reply to a request for comment. Merz has pledged to meet NATO's new benchmark of spending 3.5% of GDP on defence by 2029 - well ahead of most alliance members. But Germany also has more catching up to do. Hours after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the chief of the German army publicly vented his frustration over the long-running neglect of military readiness in his country, saying the Bundeswehr was "standing there more or less empty-handed." REUTERS
Japan Today
an hour ago
- Business
- Japan Today
Germany prepares huge orders for jets, armored vehicles, sources say
FILE PHOTO: A Boxer armoured transport vehicle manoeuvres on the day arms manufacturer Rheinmetall hands the first one over to the German armed forces Bundeswehr, in Unterluess, Germany, May 2, 2024. By Markus Wacket Germany is preparing a wave of multi-billion-euro procurement orders, including 20 Eurofighter jets, up to 3,000 Boxer armoured vehicles, and as many as 3,500 Patria infantry fighting vehicles, two sources familiar with the plans told Reuters. The purchases are part of Chancellor Friedrich Merz's push to build Europe's most powerful conventional army, aiming to reduce reliance on an increasingly unpredictable ally, the United States, and take greater responsibility for European security. Earlier this year, Merz secured the parliamentary backing needed to exempt defence spending from Germany's constitutionally enshrined debt limits, enabling his government to finance the military overhaul. Germany's regular defence budget is projected to rise to around 83 billion euro ($95.8 billion) in 2026, up by 20 billion from 2025. The Eurofighter order alone is expected to cost between 4 billion and 5 billion euro, the sources said, while the Boxer vehicles — built by KNDS and Rheinmetall — are estimated at 10 billion euro. The Patria vehicles are seen costing roughly 7 billion euro. Deliveries of the Boxer and Patria platforms are expected over the next 10 years, according to the sources. The defence ministry is also advancing plans to purchase more IRIS-T air defence systems and several hundred SkyRanger drone defence platforms, the sources said, noting that financial details for those acquisitions have yet to be finalised. Bloomberg also reported on the procurement plans, though citing some differing figures. The defence ministry did not immediately reply to a request for comment. Merz has pledged to meet NATO's new benchmark of spending 3.5% of GDP on defence by 2029 - well ahead of most alliance members. But Germany also has more catching up to do. Hours after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the chief of the German army publicly vented his frustration over the long-running neglect of military readiness in his country, saying the Bundeswehr was "standing there more or less empty-handed." © (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2025.
Reuters
an hour ago
- Business
- Reuters
Germany prepares huge orders for jets, armored vehicles, sources say
BERLIN, July 29 (Reuters) - Germany is preparing a wave of multi-billion-euro procurement orders, including 20 Eurofighter jets, up to 3,000 Boxer armoured vehicles, and as many as 3,500 Patria infantry fighting vehicles, two sources familiar with the plans told Reuters. The purchases are part of Chancellor Friedrich Merz's push to build Europe's most powerful conventional army, aiming to reduce reliance on an increasingly unpredictable ally, the United States, and take greater responsibility for European security. Earlier this year, Merz secured the parliamentary backing needed to exempt defence spending from Germany's constitutionally enshrined debt limits, enabling his government to finance the military overhaul. Germany's regular defence budget is projected to rise to around 83 billion euro ($95.8 billion) in 2026, up by 20 billion from 2025. The Eurofighter order alone is expected to cost between 4 billion and 5 billion euro, the sources said, while the Boxer vehicles — built by KNDS and Rheinmetall ( opens new tab — are estimated at 10 billion euro. The Patria vehicles are seen costing roughly 7 billion euro. Deliveries of the Boxer and Patria platforms are expected over the next 10 years, according to the sources. The defence ministry is also advancing plans to purchase more IRIS-T air defence systems and several hundred SkyRanger drone defence platforms, the sources said, noting that financial details for those acquisitions have yet to be finalised. Bloomberg also reported on the procurement plans, though citing some differing figures. The defence ministry did not immediately reply to a request for comment. Merz has pledged to meet NATO's new benchmark of spending 3.5% of GDP on defence by 2029 - well ahead of most alliance members. But Germany also has more catching up to do. Hours after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the chief of the German army publicly vented his frustration over the long-running neglect of military readiness in his country, saying the Bundeswehr was "standing there more or less empty-handed." ($1 = 0.8661 euros)
West Australian
3 hours ago
- Politics
- West Australian
UK could recognise Palestinian state at United Nations General Assembly in September
Prime Minister Keir Starmer says the United Kingdom is prepared to recognise a Palestinian state in September at the United Nations General Assembly unless Israel takes a number of steps to improve life for Palestinians. Sir Keir said the UK would make the move unless Israel took substantive steps to allow more aid to enter the Gaza Strip, made clear there will be no annexation of the West Bank and commits to a long-term peace process that delivers a 'two-state solution' - a Palestinian state co-existing in peace alongside Israel. 'The Palestinian people have endured terrible suffering,' Sir Keir told reporters. 'Now, in Gaza, because of a catastrophic failure of aid, we see starving babies, children too weak to stand, images that will stay with us for a lifetime. The suffering must end.' Sir Keir said his government would make an assessment in September on 'how far the parties have met these steps' but that no one would have a veto over the decision. He took the decision after recalling his cabinet during the summer holidays on Tuesday to discuss a new proposed peace plan being worked on with other European leaders and how to deliver more humanitarian aid for the Gaza Strip's 2.2 million people, a government statement said. 'He reiterated that there is no equivalence between Israel and Hamas and that our demands on Hamas remain that they must release all the hostages, sign up to a ceasefire, accept that they will play no role in the government of Gaza and disarm.' A growing numbers of MPs in Sir Keir's Labour Party have asked him to recognise a Palestinian state to push Israel towards action. Pressure to formally recognise Palestinian statehood has mounted since French President Emmanuel Macron announced that his country will recognise a Palestinian state in September. Meanwhile, Germany sent two military transport aircraft to Jordan to assist in airdrops of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said. 'This work may only make a small humanitarian contribution but it is an important signal: we are there, we are in the region, we are helping,' Mr Merz said. The planes are to be refuelled, filled up and equipped in Jordan before flying over the Gaza Strip, possibly as early as Wednesday, and by the weekend at the latest, Mr Merz said. Planes from Jordan and the United Arab Emirates dropped another 52 pallets of food over the Gaza Strip, the Israeli military said on Tuesday. Egyptian planes also took part in the airdrops for the first time since Sunday, when Israel began allowing increased aid into the sealed-off Palestinian territory after months of restrictions, the military said. The Israeli military on Sunday announced it was implementing daily 'humanitarian' pauses in fighting to allow for new aid to be safely distributed in the embattled strip amid increased international pressure over warners of imminent famine. The military said Egypt, Jordan and the UAE were co-ordinating the airdrops with Israel. Aid organisations including Doctors Without Borders have criticised the method as ineffective and expensive compared to lorry aid deliveries. They also note the danger posed to waiting civilians by the dropping pallets, which are attached to parachutes. Scores of Palestinians in the Gazan town of Zawaida swam into the sea to retrieve what they could from airdrops of aid on Tuesday. Kamel Qoraan returned to shore with a soaked bag of tea powder, saying that airdropping aid is 'humiliating' and calling for the opening of border crossings for trucks. Some people seemed relieved to get anything. One boy smiled as he clutched a small sack of flour. One man had a can of beans. Momen Abu Etayya said his son urged him to chase the airdrops, and dashed into the sea. 'I was only able to bring him three biscuits,' he said. with AP and DPA
