The German government has officially approved the first comprehensive military strategy in the history of the Federal Republic. The document, presented by Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, marks a definitive shift away from a policy of “restraint” toward building the most powerful conventional military capability in Europe.
A central element of the new strategy is preparation for a potential military conflict with Russia, which is officially identified as “the main threat to peace in the Euro-Atlantic area.”
“Our goal is clear: the Bundeswehr must be ready for war in order to prevent it. We are building an army capable of defending not only Germany but every inch of NATO territory,” Pistorius said during the presentation in Berlin.
Key provisions of the strategy:
Personnel increase: By the mid-2030s, the number of active Bundeswehr personnel will grow from 186,000 to 260,000 soldiers.
New reserve force: The number of reservists will nearly triple to 200,000, creating a total combat-ready force of 460,000 troops.
Defense budget: Germany has confirmed its intention to raise military spending to 3.5% of GDP by 2035. This has been made possible by the reform of the “debt brake” adopted in 2025.
Technological superiority: Special emphasis is placed on large-scale procurement of drones, development of air defense systems, and integration of artificial intelligence into command and control.
The strategy formalizes a new model of military service adopted earlier this year. While service remains predominantly voluntary, the document includes a “fallback” mechanism (automatic return to conscription) if recruitment targets for contract soldiers are not met by 2029.
Experts note that the adoption of this strategy represents a transition from the “Zeitenwende” (the historic turning point of 2022) to an “Epochenbruch” (epochal shift). Germany is assuming the role of NATO’s central logistical and operational hub in Europe. As part of this role, the full-scale deployment of a German brigade in Lithuania is already underway and is expected to be completed in the near future.