Germany announced its first stand-alone military strategy on Tuesday, intending to become the strongest “conventional army in Europe” by 2039.
Titled “Verantwortung für Europa,” or “Responsibility for Europe,” the military strategy identifies Russia as the primary threat and sets out scenarios for possible attacks on NATO territory.
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius framed the plans as a historic turning point, shifting away from U.S. reliance and toward Europe to deter the growing Russian threat.
“We are developing the Bundeswehr into the strongest conventional army in Europe,” Pistorius announced. The strategy noted how “Russia is creating the conditions for a military attack on NATO states.”
The document marks the culmination of a multiyear shift in German defense policy since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Pistorius declined to detail the classified threat assessments, quipping that releasing them would be equivalent to “adding Vladimir Putin to our email distribution list.”
While Germany stressed that the U.S.’s involvement in NATO is essential, the country acknowledged Washington’s focus on Iran and the Strait of Hormuz.
When pressed on details of the strategy account, such as whether there was a decrease in European engagement under President Donald Trump, Pistorius said scenarios such as these are being considered.
Pistorius urged that NATO must become “more European” to remain trans-Atlantic, stating that burden-sharing between the European pillar and the United States ensures balance and strength within the alliance.
It can be inferred that Germany will assume a larger role in defending the continent and enabling allied operations, as NATO countries have pledged to spend 5% of their gross domestic product on defense by 2035.
Germany looks to rearm in line with a concrete military doctrine. A $117.7 billion special fund for the Bundeswehr was created, along with loosening the constitutional debt brake for defense spending, accelerated procurement reforms, and a renewed military service system to expand troop numbers and reserves.
Nicole Schilling, the military’s deputy inspector general, said recruitment is running 10% above last year’s pace and applications are up 20%.
“In the short term, we are increasing our defense and resilience, in the medium term, we are aiming for a significant increase in overarching capabilities, and in the long term, we will establish technological superiority,” Pistorius said.
In a three-phase transition, the German military detailed how it would become the strongest conventional fighting force in Europe by 2039.
In the first phase, through 2029, the focus is on “rapidly maximizing” readiness and endurance, preparing the Bundeswehr to fight and sustain operations at short notice.
The second phase, running to 2035, centers on a structured expansion of capabilities across all domains, aligned with NATO targets.
The final phase, extending toward 2039, aims to transform the Bundeswehr into a technologically advanced military built around innovation and future capabilities.
Alongside this buildup, the military strategy reaffirms the previously stated goal of significantly expanding the Bundeswehr to a total of 460,000 soldiers, with 200,000 in reserve.
$1.5 TRILLION NATIONAL DEFENSE BUDGET DOES NOT INCLUDE IRAN WAR COSTS
Further, the strategy will shift away from rigid force structures toward a more flexible approach. Instead of defining the military by the numbers of tanks or aircraft, planners are instructed to focus on the “effects” the Bundeswehr must deliver, ranging from long-range strike to air and missile defense.
The documents, which the ministry describes as classified “living documents,” are subject to further revision.