Germany plans to make the Bundeswehr Europe’s strongest conventional army, Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced in May.
The government faces two challenges: recruit personnel through new service models and quickly supply troops with modern equipment.
Politico reports Berlin is preparing €83 billion in defense procurement, prioritizing European manufacturers. Only eight percent of orders will come from the USA.
Germany plans 154 major acquisitions between September 2025 and December 2026.
Sipri data shows European arms imports from the US tripled between 2020 and 2024. Germany’s imports jumped 334 percent, mostly from the United States.
Berlin now promotes a “Buy European” strategy, aiming to reduce reliance on American defense systems.
Risks of US Dependence
Josef Braml said Germany previously bought American weapons as “tribute” for protection Washington no longer guarantees.
He explained US systems, like the Patriot missile shield, created European dependency.
The Pentagon has paused Patriot exports, reserving them for domestic use.
Europe still lacks local solutions for some weapons, including the F-35 fighter jet.
Christophe Gomart suggested a potential “kill switch” in the F-35, but German authorities said the feature cannot be confirmed.
Germany continues its F-35 orders because Europe lacks stealth aircraft of this generation.
Europe’s Path to Strategic Autonomy
Sipri researcher Pieter Wezeman said NATO nations are reducing dependence and strengthening their defense industries.
The Marshall Plan and NATO created long-standing US-Germany security ties. Trump’s “America First” policy challenged those expectations.
Trump demanded NATO members spend five percent of GDP on defense and purchase US weapons, earmarking $150 billion for the Pentagon.
Braml emphasized true sovereignty requires Europe to control its defense, including spare parts and software.
Chancellor Merz admitted Germany will remain dependent on the US “for a long time to come.”
Braml warned that in a multipolar world, Europe must become an independent power, or risk weakness.
Patent data shows US firms dominate defense technology: 18,000 US patents versus fewer than 12,000 across all EU nations.
Germany now must assume responsibility for its own security quickly. Pax Americana is over, Braml insists.
