Nine To Noon Correspondent Thomas Sparrow in Germany
Mar 15, 2026
Thomas Sparrow, RNZ correspondent in Berlin covering European affairs. He discusses Germany releasing oil reserves and measures to curb petrol price rises. He talks about Europe overtaking other regions as the largest weapons importer and plans for defence independence. He recounts the dramatic evacuation and safe defusal of a WWII bomb in Dresden and the wider legacy of unexploded ordnance.
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Release Reserves To Stabilise Fuel Prices
- Release strategic oil reserves to calm domestic fuel markets during geopolitical shocks.
- Germany followed an IEA recommendation and announced reserve releases plus measures to limit petrol price rises and antitrust actions in the sector.
Public Anxiety Tied To Trade Memory
- German public links foreign conflicts directly to national economic security and trade vulnerability.
- A survey found 80% of Germans worry the war with Iran will affect international trade, recalling the 2022 energy shock after Russia invaded Ukraine.
Europe Emerges As Major Arms Importer
- Europe has become the largest weapons importer due to shifting security priorities since 2021.
- SIPRI data shows rising European imports and exports, partly to equip Ukraine and rebuild deterrence after recent crises.