The German economy, the most powerful in Europe, is ready to take a significant step towards strengthening its defense capabilities, with the awaiting Chancellor Friedrich Mertz announcing a plan for partial exemption of defense spending from the country’s fiscal restrictions.

“Taking into account the threats of freedom and peace in our continent, the slogan ‘whatever it takes’ (‘whatver it takes’) must now come into force for the country’s defense,” Mertz said on Tuesday night in Berlin.

The move is coming as European leaders are increasingly worried about Trump’s stance on NATO and Ukraine. Mertz had pushed to unlock the German defensive costs Before the summit of the 27 national EU leaders in Brussels on Thursday, to mark the determination of his country.

“Political developments in Europe and the world are evolving faster than we expected just a week ago,” Mertz said. “OR Germany And Europe now need to make excellent efforts to secure our defense abilities. “

Mertz proposed to exclude defense spending more than 1% of GDP from Germany’s constitutional debt limitations, which limits the budget structural deficit to 0.35% of GDP, except for emergency. It did not give details of how the additional defense will be used.

Mertz announced the plan to relax defense spending restrictions along with the leaders of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), with whom his conservatives are currently in talks on the formation of a government coalition.

Conservatives and SPD leaders have also announced a special fund of 500 billion euros to fund infrastructure projects outside regular budget spending in the next decade – a plan that appears to be aimed at left -wing MPs who could otherwise oppose the relaxation of the rules.

However, the approval of the plan is not guaranteed. Mertz needs a two -thirds majority in parliament for relaxation in the budgetary rules and the approval of the Special Infrastructure Fund.

Mertz and the SPD have been pressured to act quickly, not only because of the rapid deterioration in relations with the US, but also because the far -right, Russian -friendly AfD party and the Left will have the power to block possible moves to allow more defensive costs as soon as the Germans are over.

For this reason, the Conservatives and the SPD intend to make the proposals to vote in today’s parliament.

To get the required majority, however, they would need to support the greens. However, many green politicians have already announced that they may oppose the proposals unless they are accompanied by more fundamental and immediate reform regarding the German debt brake to allow greater costs to stimulate the economy and facilitate transition to net forms.