NATO summit: Germany's Bundeswehr faces historic restructuring!

NATO summit: Germany's Bundeswehr faces historic restructuring!

On June 24, 2025, NATO will meet in The Hague to set the decisive course for the military future of the member states. The focus is on new military objectives that are intended to take into account the requirements of the current security policy situation. Loud daily news Increasing military requirements by an average of a third is a central issue. For the Bundeswehr, this means extensive changes in order to meet the new challenges.

The planned troop strength of around 200,000 soldiers is not enough at the front and back. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius sees a need for around 260,000 soldiers. The debate over reintroducing compulsory military service is intensifying, while the current coalition agreement provides for voluntary service. However, mandatory elements may soon be discussed in order to meet the requirements.

Extensive military reforms necessary

Military analyst Gustav Gressel makes it clear that European countries will have to maintain their own military capabilities in the future. This has particularly to do with the deficits in the Bundeswehr. Loud NZZ There is an urgent need to catch up in areas such as reconnaissance, communications, refueling aircraft and satellite reconnaissance.

The Bundeswehr not only needs additional soldiers, but also a lot of new equipment and infrastructure. The force currently has around 62,000 soldiers at its disposal, but tens of thousands more are needed to meet the high demands. Germany also plans to station combat troops in Lithuania by 2027. This is also considered necessary given the more tense security situation.

Financial demands are increasing

In the future, NATO expects its member states, especially Germany, to increase defense budgets to 5 percent of gross domestic product. This would mean around 215 billion euros for Germany, based on the previous year's GDP. NATO Secretary General Rutte's proposal envisages a 3.5 percent division of expenditure for traditional defense and 1.5 percent for defense-related expenditure. These include, among other things, infrastructure, cybersecurity and digitalization, as also stated.

The Bundeswehr's current infrastructure is proving to be inadequate, as many barracks have been closed or allowed to fall into disrepair. In order to build the urgently needed new barracks and depots, planning procedures must be shortened and tenders must be simplified. Defense Minister Pistorius estimates that up to 460,000 soldiers are needed for the active force alone, although a large proportion of the current 180,000 active soldiers are currently missing.

Overall, the Bundeswehr is not only facing modernization, but also a system change that could have far-reaching consequences for military security in Europe. A major change in Europe's military landscape is imminent, which could mean Germany facing tasks reminiscent of West Germany's rearmament in 1955.

The discussions surrounding military spending and reforms within the Bundeswehr are therefore not only of national but also of international importance. The pressure from the USA and NATO is growing, and the signs point to comprehensive reforms and innovations in German defense policy.