The US House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a final version of the 2022 defense budget late Tuesday evening (local time). The budget law authorizes defense spending of $768 billion (€680.2 billion). That amount is $25 billion more than President Joe Biden requested and about 5 percent more than last year’s budget.
The budget was higher in part because MPs from both parties urged efforts to increase pressure on Russia and China. For example, the annual Defense Act contained $300 million in resources for the Ukrainian military and a statement of support for the defense of Taiwan.
The defense budget also includes a 2.7 percent increase in troop salaries and more purchases of aircraft and naval vessels, the latter in the context of reducing geopolitical threats.
A proposal that would oblige the government to impose sanctions on Germany’s Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, however, failed despite strong support in Congress.
The defense budget now goes to the Senate, where it is expected to pass soon, and then to the White House for approval by President Biden.
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