The German government is ready to revise military export rules that affect joint defense projects, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said, Reuters reports.

"Some may be surprised but the German government is prepared to do this," he said in Berlin according to the script of a speech.

Germany is ready to take the lead in ensuring Europe's security, he said. The Bundeswehr must become the foundation of non-nuclear defense in Europe and the best-equipped army in Europe, Scholz said, DW reported.

According to Scholz, this is necessary against the backdrop of the threat from Russia. From Putin's Russia now comes the biggest threat to NATO. Through the war against Ukraine, the heavily armed nuclear power is trying to redraw the borders in Europe. If Russia gets its way, peace in Europe will be permanently lost.

Scholz noted that the German armed forces must return to their fundamental task of defending the country and NATO.

He called on Europe to take significantly more responsibility in NATO and reiterated his pledge that Germany would fulfill its commitment to contribute two percent of its GDP to defense.

Olaf Scholz also called for increased cooperation with NATO partners in the development of new weapons systems. He expressed a willingness to ease Germany's stringent export restrictions, which critics say are hindering the expansion of such cooperation.