German Defence Minister says Berlin is ready to play a greater role in the European military cooperation

World News Rudolph Rodriquez
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The German Defence Minister says that Berlin is ready to play a greater role in the European military cooperation.

Berlin Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen, said that Germany is ready to assume more responsibilities with regard to military cooperation at a European level, writes the news agency Reuters.

‘Change is necessary. The isolation and self-closing will not solve the problems that we face in the world, in Europe, or even in our country,’ said von by Leyen at a military biennial meeting, referring to the aggressiveness of Russia’s increasing ravages of the conflict in Syria and the plight of Africa.

‘Germany is ready to take more commitments … to assume more responsibility,’ the minister said, adding that ‘This is the right path, but will require a significant financial commitment and time.’

Von Leyen also said that the German Finance Ministry agreed to increase the defense budget by a total of 10 billion euros by 2020, funds which will be used to purchase equipment and additional staff.

Steinmeier said that plans for strengthening the European cooperation in security does not aim to compete with NATO playing a key role in strengthening security in eastern Europe and counteract Russia’s military capabilities.

German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen, in the beginning of September has ruled in favor of creating a ‘European defense union’ responding to threats to the European security, reports Reuters news agency.

‘It is time to move forward with a European Union defense that basically would be a kind of Schengen for the defense,’ said Ursula von der Leyen, on a visit to Lithuania, where Berlin will lead a group fighting role deterrence against a potential Russian aggression.