Germany Invests Billions to Rebuild Its Military, Largest Amount in Decades

Several European countries are significantly increasing their defense spending and expanding their defense industries to prepare for the growing threat of a potential military confrontation with Russia—one they may have to face alone, without any assistance from the United States.

Germany, which has followed a neutral and non-interventionist policy since the end of the Cold War, has now decided to overhaul its defense strategy. To facilitate this shift, the German government is reforming its constitution to allocate billions of euros urgently needed for military expansion.

The billions of euros will be allocated to reactivating numerous production lines, improving military equipment, and increasing the pay of personnel. This investment coincides with a surge in military drills aimed at enhancing the readiness and combat effectiveness of Germany’s armed forces.

During one of these drills, German Brigadier General Ralf Hammerstein, with a wry smile, asked journalists:

Brigadier General Ralf Hammerstein acknowledges that militaries throughout history and in the future will always claim they lack sufficient resources. However, he likens Germany’s current defense challenges to the long-standing reliance on the "peace dividend" of the 1990s, a period that saw significant military reductions worldwide, particularly in Europe.

Despite this, Hammerstein believes Germany is now heading in the right direction. He highlights that, for the first time last year, the country met NATO’s benchmark of allocating 2% of its GDP to defense spending. Additionally, he points out that Germany has committed to further military investments, referencing the €100 billion defense package from 2022. He emphasizes that this trend will persist, with the new chancellor fully committed to strengthening the nation's armed forces.