NATO plans massive upgrade: Germany in the focus of defense!

NATO plans massive upgrade: Germany in the focus of defense!

NATO is facing a crucial upgrade in order to take into account their military deterrence and defense in view of the continuing threat from Russia. An increase in the requirements of 30 percent is planned in order to be able to react better in a crisis. This has already been announced in the run-up to the upcoming NATO summit, on which the new plans are to be specified. Germany and other Member States will adopt new national planning goals on Thursday at a Defense Minister of Defense in Brussels, the details of which are currently classified as strictly secret.

Despite these already defined goals, there are reports on significant gaps in the fulfillment of the previous requirements that, according to the rank -high military, amount to 30 percent. For Germany, the Bundeswehr is expected to grow by around 182,000 soldiers in the near future by a high five -digit number in order to reach the new planning goals. This is accompanied by considerable investments in new air defense systems.

strengthening the military presence in Europe

A central element of the NATO military strategy will be the stationing of US marching skys of the “Tomahawk” type in Germany from 2026. These rockets have a range of over 2,000 kilometers and can attack destinations such as command stops and radar systems in low flight. In addition, newly developed overonic weapons and anti-aircraft missiles of the "SM-6" type are planned. The stationed weapons are initially planned as "temporary" and later "permanently", which should underline the US obligations towards NATO.

The last stationing of such weapons in Germany has been back in the 1990s for several decades. This step comes at a time when US President Joe Biden reinforced the presence of troops in Europe after the beginning of the Russian aggression war against Ukraine. However, the decisions for stationing could be reversed if Donald Trump was to win the US presidential election in 2024, as he has threatened to exit the USA from NATO in the past.

NATO and the global security situation

The current strategic concept of NATO, which was adopted at the summit in Madrid in 2022, reacts to developments in the global security situation and in particular to the Russian attack war against Ukraine. NATO identifies Russia as a central threat and emphasizes that authoritarian regimes challenge the interests of the member countries. In addition, the concept focuses on the security of China's rise for the first time and realizes that there is no peace in Europe.

As part of the 360-degree approach, NATO will also take hybrid threats such as cyber attacks and attempts at destabilization seriously. For the future, NATO plans to strengthen its presence in the states of the eastern flank, including the increase in the "Enhanced Forward Presence" (EFP) and the "Tailored Forward Presence" (TFP). This also includes the permanent stationing of a brigade of around 5,000 soldiers in Lithuania and the establishment of a fixed headquarters in the USA in Poland.

NATO remains obliged to "defend every square meter of the Bunnisterial Ritual", and announces collective reactions to threats that could activate Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty. The challenges in the Mena region and how China rise will gain importance in the coming years, while NATO also wants to increase its reactions to terrorist threats.

The coming months will be decisive for how NATO reacts to the challenges mentioned above and how the military landscape in Europe is developing.