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In a historic shift driven by the Ukraine war, Germany building up its military

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Photo by Justin Yau/ Sipa USA)(Sipa via AP Images
The Ukrainian city of Irpin 22 kilometers Northwest of Kyiv is experiencing heavy fighting as Ukrainian Forces attempt to halt the Russian Forces advancing towards the capital city in Irpin, Ukraine on March 3, 2022.

Germany is proposing to instantly increase military spending by $113 billion while offering weapons to Ukraine, reversing more than 70 years of military-averse policies that followed World War II. “Many of us still remember our parents’ or grandparents’ tales of war,” German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in reference to Hitler’s tragic aggressions. Germany’s pledge to militarize follows criticism of its failure to help lead the international response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“The spirit of this announcement was that the German government feels responsible for peace in Europe,” says Mai’a Cross, the Edward W. Brooke Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at Northeastern. “If you are the largest economy in Europe, you also have a responsibility to maintain peace.”

Cross spoke with News@Northeastern about the transformation of German leadership in the wake of the Ukraine war. Her comments have been edited for brevity and clarity.

Continue reading at News@Northeastern.

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