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"We must be ready for war" - Germany's historic turning point, launching a major rearmament project

2026-04-27 17:04:11Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX

"We must be ready for war" - Germany's historic turning point,

Germany has entered a new and unusual phase in its post-World War II history, embarking on a vast rearmament process aimed at transforming the Bundeswehr into a war-ready force with a leading role in Europe.

In an interview with The Economist, the head of the German Armed Forces, General Carsten Breuer, stated that the objective is for the German Army to become "war-ready" by 2039, as part of a new military strategy that for the first time in the history of the Federal Republic fully determines the direction of defense development.

According to Breuer, the transformation is not only technical or budgetary, but also cultural and social. He emphasizes that the German Army is gaining a new level of attention and respect in the public, indicating a change in society's perception of its role. This, he says, is necessary at a time when Europe is facing new security threats and a changed geopolitical reality after the war in Ukraine.

The new defense strategy, part of which many elements remain classified, describes the characteristics of modern warfare: increasingly transparent battlefields through technology and data, the massive use of low-cost unmanned systems, as well as hybrid attacks that take place below the threshold of open war. In this context, Germany aims to achieve “technological superiority” by 2039, including advanced capabilities for long-range precision strikes.

This transformation is accompanied by a significant increase in military spending. Berlin has set a target of reaching 3.5% of GDP on defense by 2029, bringing the military budget to over 160 billion euros. If achieved, Germany would move to a level comparable to the major global military powers and leave behind countries like Britain and France in terms of defense financing.

Breuer presents this development not only as a national need, but also as a European responsibility. According to him, Germany is not arming itself only for itself, but to strengthen the security of the continent as a whole. However, this change is not seen equally by all allied countries. In particular, France has expressed concerns about Germany's increasing military role, given its history and the still lack of a consolidated military strategic tradition.

One of the main challenges of this process remains the modernization of the military procurement system, which has historically been slow and bureaucratic. According to Breuer, in the past the German Army had structures designed “to buy almost nothing,” while now a faster and more flexible system is being aimed at, capable of responding to the needs of modern warfare and technological innovation.

Another major problem is the shortage of personnel. Germany aims to increase the number of active soldiers to around 260,000 by 2035, from around 185,000 currently, and to create a reserve of 200,000.

To this end, a new system has been introduced that requires 18-year-olds to complete a military readiness assessment form, while the idea of ​​reinstating compulsory military service, suspended in 2011, is also returning to public debate.

Against the backdrop of these developments lies concern about Russia. The new defense strategy warns that Moscow is creating the conditions for a possible conflict with NATO. Meanwhile, the document does not mention China, reflecting a direct focus on European and Euro-Atlantic threats.

Another important element is Germany's relationship with the US and NATO. Breuer acknowledges that there is a strategic dilemma: Europe must take more responsibility for its own defense, but is not yet fully capable of replacing American capabilities. He warns that a "road map" is needed for different scenarios, including the worst, in the event of a change in the American role in the alliance.

Essentially, the transformation of the Bundeswehr represents a historic turning point for Germany, a country that for decades has pursued a cautious military policy oriented towards European cooperation.

Today, with increasing global uncertainties, Berlin is aiming to move from a militarily reserved power to a central European security actor, while simultaneously facing the political, social, and historical challenges that accompany this change.


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