BERLIN, Nov 14 (Reuters) - Germany needs to step up its

role in defence if the U.S. is to focus less on Europe, defence

minister Boris Pistorius said on Thursday, adding it will take a

modification of the country's debt brake to raise the necessary

money.

He said it did not make sense to present to Russia's

President Vladimir Putin a Germany that was debt-free but

therefore less capable of defending itself.

Pistorius said the minority government in Berlin would do

its utmost to get pending defence projects approved by

parliament before an election planned in February, and that he

had discussed this topic with the finance minister.