Whither Berlin?

COTTonLINE has been following the story of NATO member nations' defense spending shortfalls. Now PoliticoEU writes that German defense spending is the key.

If Berlin commits to spending the recommended 2 percent of GDP on defense, it would add $30 billion of defense spending in Europe — a large share of the $100 billion surplus that would be generated if all European members and Canada met their targets. The move would significantly boost European defense.

All this because Germany is the richest country in NATO. Other European powers are ambivalent about Germany remilitarizing. They were on the receiving end of German military might in two world wars, and have no desire for an encore.