Re-Armed Germany 'Would Alarm Russia'

Increased defence spending in Germany will worry neighbouring European countries, a Labour MP has said.

Currently about 1.3% of the German GDP is spent on defence, but this number is expected to increase to 2% to meet NATO membership commitment.

Labour MP Madeleine Moon said the extra spending would "not only give concern perhaps to some of Germany's neighbours, but also to Russia".

During defence questions she said:

"Germany currently spends 1.23% of GDP, €36 billion. To spend 2% it would need to almost double to €60 billion. Does the minister appreciate that a re-armed Germany (...) would in fact potentially increase the difficulties that we face with tensions on the Russian border?"

Defence Minister Harriett Baldwin replied: "We think it is incredibly important that all the countries that are members of NATO (...) have all committed to spend 2% at the NATO conference in Wales in 2014."

Only five out of 23 NATO countries currently meet the 2% commitment: the UK, the US, Poland, Greece and Estonia.

However, according to a recent report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, the British government missed the 2% NATO defence spending target last year.

The MoD has rejected the figures saying that they are "wrong".

Shadow defence minister Fabian Hamilton said that defence spending was inflated by including things such as pensions, which were not included under the last Labour government.

Picture courtesy of US Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Daniel Stevenson