Germany accelerates rearmament – Berlin no longer wants to be the "weak link"

Berlin – 10.07.2026: The federal government has in recent months presented a package for the accelerated modernization of the Bundeswehr, linking this to security-policy debates at the most recent NATO summit in Ankara in early July. After years of investment stagnation, the force is to be staffed, equipped and logistically organized so that Germany is no longer considered a “weak link” in collective defence.

At the core of the plan are additional budgetary funds, a special fund and simplified procurement procedures. Priorities are air defence, command and reconnaissance systems, ammunition, and mobile land and air forces. At the same time, Berlin wants to expand training capacities, maintenance and the availability of spare parts to bring new systems to operational readiness quickly and to stabilise readiness on a lasting basis.

From an industrial policy perspective, the government is relying on European cooperation with clearer responsibilities. After the de facto halt of the Franco-German fighter project FCAS, joint projects on tank systems, electronic warfare and drones are coming to the fore. Paris and Berlin signed an agreement on the defence industry on 22 June that addresses governance issues and is intended to pool production capacities in Europe. The aim is to shorten supply chains, reduce dependencies and advance standardisation.

In several European capitals the course is broadly welcomed: higher German defence spending and more reliable contributions to the NATO are seen as relief for partners on the eastern flank. At the same time, warnings are growing about rushed direct awards, price inflation due to overfull order books, and shortages of key components such as precision ammunition, sensors and propulsion systems. Experts point out that production rates, maintenance and training must be synchronised so that procurements do not get stuck in the bottleneck of logistics.

Politically, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius and Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasize that Germany’s rearmament should remain embedded in European formats – from closer coordination with France to coordinated requirements lists within NATO. Observers see this as an opportunity to strengthen European sovereignty. At the same time, analyses point out that rising military spending, new procurement projects and a revitalisation of the defence industry could shift balances of power and rekindle industrial-policy conflicts.

It remains unclear how quickly structural hurdles in procurement, legal protection and certification can be dismantled. Crucial will be whether industry and the armed forces receive reliable multi-year lines that justify investments in personnel, machinery and suppliers. Only when production, spare parts supply and training operations noticeably pick up will it be possible to see whether the modernization actually delivers the announced capability build-up – and whether Europe benefits from this in terms of security policy.