Germany's Bundeswehr will become a NATO professional: 3.5% by 2029!

Germany's Bundeswehr will become a NATO professional: 3.5% by 2029!

The reputation of the Bundeswehr in NATO has improved significantly in recent years. This is primarily due to the increased defense spending that Germany is making and the new tasks that the country has taken on in NATO. Germany is now the second most important member of NATO after the USA and plays a central role in the alliance's security policy.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte highlighted the assured German leadership in various areas, including the permanent stationing of a combat brigade in the Baltics and the surveillance of the airspace there by German jets. These measures are part of a larger commitment that includes the protection of critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea.

Financing and expenses

Germany plans to invest 3.5 percent of its gross domestic product in defense by 2029. This decision comes earlier than requested by NATO, which has only foreseen compliance with this target for 2035. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius also heads the Ukraine Contact Group UDCG, which now includes almost 50 countries and aims to provide comprehensive support to Ukraine, which is one of Ukraine's largest supporters in the EU.

According to ZDF Germany's defense budget will rise to a total of 152.8 billion euros by 2029. 62.4 billion euros have already been earmarked for 2025, which is more than ten billion euros above the previous year's budget. These financial resources are essential because all NATO countries must meet the two percent target for defense spending.

In addition, the federal government will take on new debt of 126.1 billion euros annually until 2029 in order to finance defense spending and necessary investments. 8.5 billion euros in aid are planned for Ukraine every year.

Structure and challenges of the Bundeswehr

The Bundeswehr itself, founded on November 12, 1955, includes the army, air force and navy as well as cyber and information space. There are currently 182,357 active soldiers in service, including 24,908 women, and around 930,000 reservists. The military budget for 2025 is 62.31 billion euros, including a special fund of 86.37 billion euros.

The Bundeswehr has reformed several times since its founding. The crisis following the attack on Ukraine has further increased the need to adapt to the new security policy realities. However, there are also challenges: slow procurement, cooperation on defense projects and outdated systems are concerns.

The debate over restoring conscription, suspended since 2011, is also underway, noting that the deficiencies are more serious than just the Bundeswehr's uniforms. These issues are not only being discussed within Germany, but also raise questions about the future role of the Bundeswehr in Europe, particularly in relation to a possible European NATO 2.

Overall, it is clear that the Bundeswehr operates in a dynamic environment in which the requirements for security architecture are constantly changing. Germany is perceived as a stable anchor in NATO, even if many internal challenges still have to be overcome.