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The article focuses on military spending and arms purchases by Greece. Greece is the largest importer of weapons in Europe and its military budget is the largest in the European Union (EU) as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP), although Greece's large amount of public debt has created a financial crisis with the EU. It is noted that Germany, which is one of Greece's leading creditors, also is a large arms supplier to Greece.

The article reports on widespread views among German taxpayers on the need to save than to borrow, which made them reluctant to accept the decision of their government to provide bailout money to Greece.

The article focuses on the conflict about government-debt defaults between Greece and Germany.

The article reports on the intensification of tensions between Greece and Germany after Greek Deputy Prime Minister injected Nazi-era grievances into the debate over a possible German-led bailout.

The article reports that Greece is the first European zone (euro-zone) country that received a downgrade by Standard & Poor's on January 14, 2009, while Germany's gross domestic product fell to very low levels in the fourth quarter of 2008. The credit rating agency has threatened other euro-zone members including Spain, Ireland and Portugal, while Ireland denied it needed help from the International Monetary Fund. The data allegedly put pressure on the European Central Bank to lower its key interest rate by a half percentage point on January 14, 2009.

The article reports on the opposition of German Chancellor Angela Merkel to provide financial support for Greece, claiming that it should sort its own debt problems despite growing calls from European Union (EU) leaders for Germany to back stronger support for Greece.