FRANKFURT — Germany’s historic turnaround on public spending has sent shockwaves through financial markets, sending the euro and government borrowing costs sharply higher.

Germany has preached fiscal conservatism for years, but suddenly it’s taking the lead on pushing for European Union reforms aimed at freeing up more money for defense spending over the long term. A German envoy to the bloc has urged the bloc to change its budget rules in the face of geopolitical circumstances,

The move, which requires parliamentary approval, would exempt military expenditure from the country’s strict fiscal rules.