UN condemns terror attack, offers condolences to victims’ families
On Monday (8 September), two Palestinian gunmen opened fire at a bus stop on the outskirts of Jerusalem. Police described the incident as a “terrori...
Germany is preparing multi-billion-euro defence purchases including jets and thousands of armoured vehicles, aiming to create Europe’s most powerful army amid concerns over U.S. reliability.
Germany is set to place some of its largest military orders since the Cold War, with plans to procure 20 Eurofighter jets, up to 3,000 Boxer armoured vehicles, and around 3,500 Patria infantry fighting vehicles, according to sources.
The move is part of Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s broader push to strengthen German military capabilities and reduce dependence on the United States for European security.
The planned purchases form a key pillar of Merz's defence overhaul, following his success in gaining parliamentary approval to exempt military spending from the country's strict constitutional debt ceiling.
Germany's regular defence budget is projected to rise to €83 billion ($95.8 billion) by 2026, a €20 billion increase from the previous year.
The Eurofighter order alone is estimated at between €4 billion and €5 billion. The Boxer armoured vehicles, jointly produced by KNDS and Rheinmetall, are expected to cost around €10 billion, while the Patria fighting vehicles could total approximately €7 billion euro.
Delivery of the Boxer and Patria platforms is expected to unfold over the next decade.
Germany also plans to expand its air defence capabilities with more IRIS-T systems and several hundred SkyRanger drone defence units, though pricing for those systems has not yet been finalised.
The German Defence Ministry has yet to comment on the procurement plans, parts of which were also reported by Bloomberg, although with slightly different figures.
Chancellor Merz has committed to meeting NATO’s new target of 3.5% of GDP on defence by 2029 — a level that few other alliance members have pledged to match. He has made clear that this is necessary for Germany to shoulder greater security responsibilities in Europe.
Germany’s military build-up comes amid persistent criticism of the Bundeswehr’s readiness. Hours after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the then-head of the German army admitted the country’s forces were severely under-equipped, saying the Bundeswehr was "standing there more or less empty-handed."
AnewZ has learned that India has once again blocked Azerbaijan’s application for full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, while Pakistan’s recent decision to consider diplomatic relations with Armenia has been coordinated with Baku as part of Azerbaijan’s peace agenda.
A powerful eruption at Japan’s Shinmoedake volcano sent an ash plume more than 3,000 metres high on Sunday morning, prompting safety warnings from authorities.
A day of mourning has been declared in Portugal to pay respect to victims who lost their lives in the Lisbon Funicular crash which happened on Wednesday evening.
The UK is gearing up for Exercise Pegasus 2025, its largest pandemic readiness test since COVID-19. Running from September to November, this full-scale simulation will challenge the country's response to a fast-moving respiratory outbreak.
A Polish Air Force pilot was killed on Thursday when an F-16 fighter jet crashed during a training flight ahead of the 2025 Radom International Air Show.
Violent clashes broke out on Monday in Nepal between police and protesters demonstrating against a social media ban and alleged corruption.
On Monday (8 September), two Palestinian gunmen opened fire at a bus stop on the outskirts of Jerusalem. Police described the incident as a “terrorist attack,” reporting that six people were killed and several others injured.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has proposed the creation of a unicameral parliament in the country. Speaking to the nation on Monday at the parliament in Astana, he said the reform would have a “serious positive impact” on the country’s socio-economic development.
U.S. defence secretary Pete Hegseth and joint chiefs of staff chairman Dan Caine made a surprise visit to Puerto Rico on Monday, marking the first trip by senior Pentagon officials since Washington increased its military presence in the Caribbean, heightening tensions with Venezuela.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment