The German government intends to strengthen its armed forces with six ThyssenKrupp F127-class frigates, as well as 20 BAE Systems Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets, Bloomberg reported, citing its sources.
The mentioned weapons are a priority on the German government's supply list. The price of six frigates from ThyssenKrupp exceeds 15 billion EUR, the fighters will cost the German authorities 3 billion EUR.
Similar plans, writes Bloomberg Bloomberg, show the German authorities' move away from purchasing American weapons against the background of statements by US President Donald Trump that Europe must take on the burden of its own security.
At the summit on March 6, EU leaders supported the European Commission's ReArm EU plan, but did not approve the Commission's proposed instruments for its loan financing in the amount of EUR 800 billion for the period until 2029. The financial part of the plan has been returned for revision.
On March 6, the EU summit adopted a final document that provides a plan for the militarization of Europe, which should provide the EU with the ability to defend itself autonomously anywhere. The European Council tasked the European Commission with finding sources of financing for the EU's military-industrial complex and supported the redirection of the European Investment Bank to financing military projects. Although the text emphasizes that the arms race that has begun in Europe will be fully consistent with the goals of the North Atlantic Alliance and will be carried out in cooperation with it, this statement became the first European military-related document in decades that does not mention the United States at all.