New | German defence chief says Berlin ready to expand military role

German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday that Germany was ready to play a larger military role than in the past in the service of closer European defence cooperation.

“Change is necessary. Isolation and self-blockades will not solve the problems we face in the world, in Europe, or here in our country,” von der Leyen told a biennial gathering of 200 top military officials, citing Russia’s more aggressive actions, the ravages of the Syrian war and brewing challenges in Africa.

“Germany is ready to engage ... to take more responsibility,” she said. “This is the right path, but it will require an enormous commitment of time and money.”

Von der Leyen said the Finance Ministry had agreed to boost defence spending by a total of 10 billion euros through 2020 to help procure equipment and increase personnel.

The hike still needs the approval of parliament, and is only a step toward von der Leyen’s goal of spending 130 billion euros on investment programmes by 2030.

Germany, Europe’s largest economy, and France are pushing to strengthen European defence cooperation after Britain’s June vote to leave the European Union. They insist the effort is not aimed at building a European army.