Publication date:
May 22, 2025
Germany Aims to Build Europe's Strongest Army Amid Geopolitical Shifts
Germany's new chancellor Friedrich Merz has vowed to build 'the strongest conventional army in Europe', but faces challenges in recruitment, funding and political consensus.
Geopolitics
Germany's new chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has pledged to build "the strongest conventional army in Europe" as the country adapts to new security realities following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. This marks a significant shift for Germany, which has long preferred soft power over military strength.
However, experts say Germany faces several hurdles in achieving this goal. Ulrich Kühn of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace notes that while funding is available, there is a lack of cross-party consensus on military spending, especially from the left wing of the governing Social Democrats.
Germany has taken some initial steps, including a €100 billion special fund to modernize its military and constitutional changes to partially exempt defense spending from debt limits. The country is also deploying troops to Lithuania on a long-term basis for the first time since World War II.
But challenges remain. Germany's armed forces, the Bundeswehr, had 180,215 active-duty personnel as of May 2024, with plans to increase to 200,000 delayed until 2031 due to recruitment difficulties. Decades of underinvestment have led to readiness problems, capability gaps, and infrastructure challenges that will take years to address.
On the positive side, Germany has a thriving defense industry, including major players like Rheinmetall and KNDS. The country's defense industry strategy focuses on key technologies and greater economies of scale. However, reforming procurement processes remains crucial.
Experts say that if Germany can overcome these obstacles and boost its military capabilities, it could have ripple effects across Europe given the country's political and economic weight. This has already been seen with initiatives allowing increased defense spending and proposals for common EU defense funding.
Ultimately, Germany's efforts to strengthen its armed forces could encourage other European nations to follow suit as the continent adapts to a changed security landscape. However, sustained political will and leadership will be required to overcome the legacy of decades of underinvestment in defense.
However, experts say Germany faces several hurdles in achieving this goal. Ulrich Kühn of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace notes that while funding is available, there is a lack of cross-party consensus on military spending, especially from the left wing of the governing Social Democrats.
Germany has taken some initial steps, including a €100 billion special fund to modernize its military and constitutional changes to partially exempt defense spending from debt limits. The country is also deploying troops to Lithuania on a long-term basis for the first time since World War II.
But challenges remain. Germany's armed forces, the Bundeswehr, had 180,215 active-duty personnel as of May 2024, with plans to increase to 200,000 delayed until 2031 due to recruitment difficulties. Decades of underinvestment have led to readiness problems, capability gaps, and infrastructure challenges that will take years to address.
On the positive side, Germany has a thriving defense industry, including major players like Rheinmetall and KNDS. The country's defense industry strategy focuses on key technologies and greater economies of scale. However, reforming procurement processes remains crucial.
Experts say that if Germany can overcome these obstacles and boost its military capabilities, it could have ripple effects across Europe given the country's political and economic weight. This has already been seen with initiatives allowing increased defense spending and proposals for common EU defense funding.
Ultimately, Germany's efforts to strengthen its armed forces could encourage other European nations to follow suit as the continent adapts to a changed security landscape. However, sustained political will and leadership will be required to overcome the legacy of decades of underinvestment in defense.
