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Bundeswehr increases strength: Germany's role in NATO is growing!
Germany strengthens its NATO role with increased defense spending and new strategies until 2029. Key developments.
Bundeswehr increases strength: Germany's role in NATO is growing!
The Bundeswehr's reputation within NATO has noticeably improved recently. The reason for this is Germany's increased defense spending and the increased tasks facing the troops. After the USA, Germany takes pride of place as the second most important member of the alliance. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated this at a recent press conference, where he particularly praised the permanent stationing of a German combat brigade in the Baltics and the monitoring of the airspace in the region. He also emphasized Germany's support in protecting critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, which is becoming increasingly important for NATO. As tagesschau.de reports, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius is also in the spotlight by leading the “Ukraine Defense Contact Group” with Great Britain.
But how is all of this financed? Germany is planning a significant increase in its defense budget, which is expected to rise to an impressive 152.8 billion euros by 2029. The financing is part of the federal government's new financial planning, which is to be decided in the cabinet on Tuesday. In order to cover these expenses, new debt of up to 126.1 billion euros is accepted annually. What is particularly noteworthy is that Germany is also achieving the desired NATO goal: by 2029, 3.5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) is to be spent on defense, a step that is in contrast to previous conditions when Russia was still viewed as a partner. With the attack on Ukraine, this view changed abruptly - Russia is now seen as the greatest threat.
A look at the numbers
In detail, the German defense budget for the coming years should look like this:
| Year | Planned defense budget |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 62.4 billion euros |
| 2026 | 82.7 billion euros |
| 2027 | 93.3 billion euros |
| 2028 | 136.5 billion euros |
In addition, annual aid to Ukraine amounting to 8.5 billion euros until 2029 is anchored in the financial plan. This shows Germany's role as one of Ukraine's biggest supporters in the EU. The creation of a special fund for the Bundeswehr, which amounts to almost 500 billion euros, also represents another significant step, as zdf.de reports.
Challenges and deficits
Despite these advances, there are also concerns about certain deficiencies in Germany's defense policy. These include the slow procurement of materials, deficiencies in cooperation on defense projects and outdated systems. Historically, defense policy has often had a secondary status, comparable to development aid. These deficits are in stark contrast to the high level of recognition that Germany is now receiving for its leadership role in NATO.
Ursula von der Leyen, the former German defense minister, is a big supporter of Ukraine and plans to further expand the EU's defense. Nevertheless, there are always discussions about the necessity of military service that are currently emerging in society. These topics show that, despite all the progress, there is still a need for further action.