Scholz “scares” Putin – Pushes Britain to increase defense spending

The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Rishi Sunak he is used to calls for increased defense spending.
But as the prime minister embarks on a rare trip abroad amid a rocky year in British politics, he is likely to hear the same message from one of the UK’s most prominent allies, according to Politico.
THE Rishi Sunak visits Germany for the first time as prime minister on Tuesday, with the German chancellor Olaf Scholz be expected to seek clear assurances about the British defense spending after decades of cuts in real terms.
Just two years ago it would have been unthinkable that Germany would be able to pressure Britain on the extent of its military spending.
But after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Berlin is finally ready to meet the NATO target of spending 2% of GDP on defence.
Germany’s arms commitments for the war are now nearly double those of Britain, and the Olaf Scholz has made a habit in recent months of urging its European neighbors to similarly increase their contribution to the continent’s firepower.

British ambiguity

On his part, Mr Sunak has said it aspires to raise UK defense spending to 2.5% of GDP – an increase of £9bn a year on current levels – but has presented no real plan for how or when this might happen .
This ambiguity appears to frustrate Britain’s allies, as it frustrates many of Sunak’s own MPs – including prominent members of his cabinet.
A senior German government official told POLITICO that “there does not appear to be any plan to increase defense spending [του Ηνωμένου Βασιλείου] not at all”, noting that they have “remained the same for quite some time”.
“We understand the budget constraints that the UK has, but we all have the same budget constraints,” the official added.

From Warsaw to Berlin

Before his trip to Berlin, Sunak will fly to Warsaw for defense talks with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, before traveling to Germany later in the day.
Under pressure both at home and abroad, the British prime minister will use his two-day tour to make multiple defense-related announcements.
No 10 Downing Street said on Monday night that the UK would send an extra £3bn in military support to Ukraine this year – a £500m increase on previously announced funds.
The extra cash will be spent on much-coveted munitions and air defense systems for Ukraine.
“Ukraine’s armed forces continue to fight bravely, but they need our support – and they need it now,” Sunak said.
“The UK will always play its part at the forefront of European security.”

Annoyance Sunak

Sunak will surely be annoyed by any suggestion from Berlin that Britain is not doing its part.
The UK has long been Europe’s leading military power, while Germany’s armed forces were in dire straits before Putin’s invasion of Ukraine – and remain so, despite increased spending.
Unfortunately, I have to say that the Bundeswehr still has shortages,” Eva Högl, Germany’s parliamentary commissioner for the armed forces, said last month. “There is a shortage of ammunition, spare parts and radio equipment.
There is still a shortage of tanks, ships and planes.”
A UK official said any overt pressure from Scholz would invite anger in London, noting that while many in Westminster accept the need to boost UK defense investment, the Germans “must also back off”.
A recent UK diplomatic briefing seen by POLITICO notes that Berlin was slow to react to the invasion of Ukraine, but has since stepped up its efforts.
The document made it clear that Britain does not see Scholz as a prominent leader in the West’s fight against Putin.

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