![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Russia hits out at German 'remilitarisation' Moscow, June 3 (AFP) Jun 03, 2022 Russia accused Germany of "remilitarising" Friday, using language that summoned up its Nazi past. Germany's government and conservative opposition struck a deal Sunday to release 100 billion euros ($107 billion) to build up its army after Moscow's offensive in Ukraine. "We take that as another confirmation that Berlin is on the path to a new re-militarisation," said Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. "We know only too well how that can end," she added. It appeared to be a reference to Nazi Germany's re-armament programme in the 1930s under Adolf Hitler that plunged the world into war. The Berlin deal involves changing budgetary rules in the constitution and is a major reversal for Germany, which has for years dragged its feet on complying with NATO spending commitments, drawing criticism from Washington in particular. Since the end of the Cold War, Germany has significantly reduced its military from 500,000 personnel in 1990 to just 200,000 today. But the conflict in Ukraine has jolted a country steeped in pacifism since the horrors of World War Two into action.
|
|
All rights reserved. Copyright Agence France-Presse. Sections of the information displayed on this page (dispatches, photographs, logos) are protected by intellectual property rights owned by Agence France-Presse. As a consequence, you may not copy, reproduce, modify, transmit, publish, display or in any way commercially exploit any of the content of this section without the prior written consent of Agence France-Presse.
|