Germany Aims to Build Europe's Strongest Army

Germany has declared its ambition to become Europe's leading military force within NATO. Ambassador to the US Jens Hanefeld said Berlin is ready to take on greater responsibility for the continent's security after decades of American dominance, Fox News reports.

The drive stems from Russia's war against Ukraine, which German officials say has fundamentally changed the security environment. Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government is planning to increase defense spending to 5% of gross domestic product (GDP) and significantly strengthen the Bundeswehr, with plans to recruit nearly 100,000 new soldiers and expand military capabilities on NATO's eastern flank, including a permanent brigade in Lithuania.

Germany has also pushed back against criticism that it is not contributing enough to collective defense, pointing to billions of dollars in purchases of US military equipment. Berlin expects NATO to remain a transatlantic alliance but to become significantly more European in character over the next decade.

(mja)