BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - According to Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck, Germany and Europe must arm themselves in view of the changing world situation. "Europe must do its own homework when it comes to defense. We disarmed after 1990. We were one of the most heavily armed countries in Europe," said the Green politician on Wednesday evening at the "Europe 2024" conference in Berlin. At the time, an army was only considered necessary for "military police operations" abroad. "But now that land war has suddenly returned, we are not prepared for that. And that's what we have to do." We can no longer rely on the United States to foot the bill or provide military equipment.

Habeck spoke out in favor of ramping up arms production, and said that deployment scenarios for national defense must also be reactivated. This applies regardless of whether Donald Trump wins the next American presidential election. "When in doubt, we risk nothing by doing it," said Habeck. But: "We risk an enormous amount if we rest on the fact that we don't do it."

When asked whether more armaments meant that the German government would have to make savings elsewhere, Habeck said: "It doesn't necessarily mean that at first." For example, many everyday technical innovations have emerged from military research. Military production also has an impact on economic performance. "But when they are built, then they are there, the tanks or the missiles or the cyber security things." It is to be hoped that military goods will only be used for training. "And yet we still need them. And that will come at a price. We have to be clear about that."

However, the Economics Minister conceded that in times of tight finances and a lack of manpower, "competitive situations" could arise. For example, the capital stock of European banks is smaller than that of American banks, which therefore also finance larger projects. There is also a certain risk aversion in Europe. With an ageing population, the available workforce is also decreasing.

Habeck also spoke out in favor of slightly higher public debt. "For public borrowing, it makes no difference whether we have 64 or 63 percent." As a large country with a strong economic performance, Germany does not need that much money to boost production again and support Ukraine, for example. "It must be possible to somehow create a certain dynamic." At the same time, Habeck opposed tax increases. It is now necessary for people to spend money. "Because we need to get people to invest again, to consume, to have confidence in the future and then save less and spend more."/hrz/DP/men