German lawmakers on Friday voted to approve 100 billion euros in special funding to strengthen Germany's army, paving the way for a massive buy-out three months after the start of russia's military operation in Ukraine that prompted the government to act.
The decision won broad support in the lower chamber of the German Parliament after Chancellor Olaf Schulz's ruling coalition held lengthy negotiations with the main opposition Union Bloc.
A majority of 593 deputies voted in favour of the funding, 80 opposed it and seven abstained, according to the Associated Press.
However, the decision still needs the approval of the Upper Chamber of Parliament, which represents german state governments.
The draft resolution had led to Russian criticism, with Moscow alluding to Germany's Nazi past.
The Russian Foreign Ministry on Friday criticized Germany's plan to strengthen its army, saying it was a "re-arming" in reference to the Nazi era in Germany between 1933 and 1945, AFP reported.
Schultz announced the funding on February 27, three days after Russian military operations began in Ukraine.
The German chancellor said his country would now spend more than 2% of its GDP on defense, a goal set by NATO that has slowed down for a long time.
Moscow: Rearmament
"We consider this to be an additional confirmation that Berlin has taken the path of new rearmament," said Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. We know how this can end," he said, according to AFP.
Zakharova's statement seemed a hint of Germany's rearmament during Nazi rule in the 1930s, followed by the launch of World War II by its leader Adolf Hitler between 1939 and 1945.
Earlier Friday, Russia said Germany's intensification of its military arming operations would "increase the risk of escalation" in response to Berlin's decision to modernize its army and buy 60 Chinook helicopters to modernize its army, particularly the German Air Force.
Since the end of the Cold War, Germany has significantly reduced its military size from about 500,000 when the country was reunified in 1990 to just 200,000 today.
In addition, military officials consistently complain of breakdowns in their fighter jets, ships and tanks.
However, russia's special military operation in Ukraine has been a wake-up call in a peacefully oriented country since the end of the Nazi era.
Berlin buys 60 Chinook helicopters
Last Wednesday, the German Defense Ministry announced its intention to buy 60 Chinook military transport helicopters manufactured by Boeing, as part of a major procurement campaign to modernize the German army.
Officials admit that the German army has suffered neglect for years, while German Defense Minister Christine Lambercht has told parliament that the government wants to buy Chinook helicopters.
"This has proven to be the european air transport pillar, and with this model, we will strengthen our ability to cooperate in Europe," she said.
The plan includes the purchase of 60 Chinook-47F helicopters, her ministry said in a statement, without giving financial details, but the German agency said about 5 billion euros of a 100 billion euro spending package had been allocated for purchase.
According to a document shared with Reuters, Berlin will spend 40.9 billion euros on development and procurement processes, including new Euro Fighter and F-35 aircraft as an alternative to Tornado fighter jets, as well as the establishment of an early warning system in space.
The document also included the allocation of 19.3 billion euros to the Navy and 16.6 billion euros to ground forces, to purchase new ships and submarines and to develop an alternative to the Marder combat infantry vehicle.