Germany has boosted its military funding and infrastructure leading Berlin to achieve NATO’s target of allocating 2% of its GDP to defense by 2024—a milestone not reached since the Cold War ended in 1991.
Despite this, United States President, Donald Trump has argued that Germany should increase its defense spending to 5% of GDP, citing the significant resources the U.S. dedicates to protecting the central European nation.
Also the German’s parliament has decided to ease debt restrictions, enabling increased investment in military infrastructure.
Friedrich Merz, the likely new chancellor from the conservative Christian Democratic Union party, pledged to do “whatever it takes” to rebuild Germany’s weakened military.
Berlin’s mainstream political parties plan to invest hundreds of billions of euros in defense and infrastructure. Reports indicate that Germany’s armed forces (Bundeswehr) are in disarray, with only 181,174 soldiers as of last year. The Defense Ministry aims to expand the armed forces to 203,000 personnel by 2031.