Germany Aims to Strengthen Military as Defense Spending Increases

Germany’s government is intensifying the debate about its military rearmament. They want to make the Bundeswehr the strongest conventional army in Europe. This new initiative is a direct response to continued and increasing geopolitical strife as well as the growing need for improved national security.

During a recent state of the nation address Chancellor Olaf Scholz emphasized that there’s “no instant solution” to today’s security crises. He stressed the need for a two-pronged strategy. We need to raise our military assistance concomitantly as we get serious about diplomacy to resolve conflicts, particularly with the long-term, ongoing war in Ukraine.

Germany’s new Defense Minister, Boris Pistorius, has signaled willingness to increase Germany’s defense spending. He wants to raise them by no more than 5 percent. This marks a notable shift in the country’s military budget strategy, reflecting a commitment to modernizing the armed forces and addressing emerging threats. The new Berlin coalition is committed to raising military spending “well above” the 2% of GDP NATO baseline, matching these security investments with new European priorities.

Germany’s far-right party, the Alternative for Germany (AfD), has long touted the adoption of a “warrior culture” for the Bundeswehr. This idea was popularized by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Specifically, the AfD has been advocating for a redefinition of military ethos that suits their radical right political ideology. As such it has fueled intense debate over the future course of Germany’s armed forces.

Friedrich Merz, leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), commented on the difficult realities of a possible ceasefire negotiations in Ukraine. He suggested that the negotiations might last several months, highlighting the lengthy nature of diplomatic efforts in the face of ongoing military operations.

Germany increasingly recognizes its central responsibility in European and global security affairs. Necessary awareness or not, that understanding is behind a real and massive pivot toward more military capability and spending. As tensions rise in various regions, the government’s commitment to strengthening its defense infrastructure aims to ensure that Germany can effectively contribute to collective security efforts within NATO and beyond.