Germany has presented a new national military strategy as it responds to what it describes as an increasing security threat from Russia, according to Defence Minister Boris Pistorius.
The strategy was announced as Germany continues to expand and modernize its armed forces following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The country also reintroduced voluntary military service in January in an effort to strengthen troop numbers.
Pistorius said the new defence plan includes Germany’s first comprehensive military strategy and an assessment of Bundeswehr capabilities, defining the structure, organisation, and future size of the armed forces.
While many details remain classified, he stated that the objective is to develop the Bundeswehr into “the strongest conventional army in Europe.”
The German Defence Ministry considers Russia the primary security threat facing the country, citing Moscow’s military build-up and its willingness to use force to pursue strategic interests.
“With its rearmament, it is preparing for a military confrontation with NATO and sees the use of military force as a legitimate instrument to assert its interests,” Pistorius said.
The strategy also highlights the importance of long-range precision weapons, air defence systems, and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and robotics.
“In the short term, we are strengthening our defence and resilience capabilities; in the medium term, we aim for a significant and comprehensive increase in capabilities; and in the long term, we will achieve technological superiority,” Pistorius added.
