(Washington) The United States announced Thursday that it has approved the sale to Germany of some 600 missiles and equipment for its Patriot air defense systems, for a total of five billion dollars.
As part of its military aid to Ukraine, Germany donated several of its Patriot systems to Kyiv.
The sale by Washington “will strengthen U.S. foreign policy and national security by reinforcing the security of a NATO ally that is also an important force for economic and political stability in Europe,” the U.S. Defense Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said in a statement.
The transaction “will improve Germany’s capabilities to address current and future threats and increase the defensive capabilities of its armed forces,” the DSCA added.
Following this approval by the State Department, the DSCA sent, as required by law, a notification to Congress, which must give the final green light.
Germany has donated several Patriot systems to Ukraine, whose infrastructure is regularly targeted by incursions by Russian aircraft and drones, and which is demanding more air defense capabilities.
With the outbreak of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Berlin abandoned its traditionally pacifist stance and became the second largest supplier of military aid to Kyiv after Washington.