German tanks in Lithuania.
German government photo.
Germany is steadily moving forward with a sharp rise in military spending that can equip larger Vandeswales (German Army) with more armored vehicles, more air defense batteries, more warships, more spy satellites, and more important technologies such as radar and radio jammers and artificial intelligence.
The driving force behind spending (billions of billions of dollars in two separate packages) is clear. As the US is more closely aligned with Russian interests under President Donald Trump, leaning against Ukraine to effectively surrender to Russian invasions, Europe must achieve “strategic independence” from its former close allies in the Atlantic, German Prime Minister Friedrich Merz said.
Berlin now spends around $68 billion a year on the military.
Meltz is not planning to take on his new office until later this month. But in anticipation of a new political alliance in the German parliament, Merz pushed for much of the defense boost, part of a $550 billion fund that it would also pay for environmental projects.
Lawmakers voted Tuesday. A large spending package passed.
The new fund is supplementary. That is, they will be added to another $110 billion in funds defended by resigning Prime Minister Olaf Scholz. The previous plus-up to fulfill Germany’s pledge to spend 2% of its gross domestic product on defense by 2027 is likely to fund 12 initiatives the government identified in its 2024 study.
They are:
Safe Communication AI Shipbuilding Armored Vehicle Sensor Electronic Warfare Missiles and Missile Defense Satellite Ammunition Drone
German Navy photo.
German government photos
We’re leaving Europe
In the text from last year’s study, it is not difficult to detect what European countries once offered, either on the sides or under the auspices of NATO, German leaders that European countries would replace the important military capabilities they once offered to the United States.
The US industry is building sophisticated long-range air defenses, including patriot missile batteries. European industry struggles to assemble more than a handful of similar SAMP/T batteries each year. The US Navy operates over 100 Boeing EA-18G radar jamming aircraft. The European Air Force only has a few planes equipped to suppress enemy air defenses.
US space forces maintain hundreds of satellites for surveillance, communication and navigation. The European Space Force deploys only dozens of similar spacecraft. The US Air Force is moving quickly to equip armed drones with AI that can win dogfights with human pilots. The European Air Force is behind.
The German army requires many advanced skills, but many of their most urgent requirements are as low-tech as possible. Especially people and ammunition. Berlin wants to add 20,000 to its current military salaries of 180,000. The extra billets will help the Germans set up mechanized brigades that plan to sail forever in Lithuania as a deterrent to further Russian attacks.
If Russia defeats Ukraine, perhaps the United States abandons Ukraine completely or actively monitors Russia, even the only thing that stands between the Russian army and the free state of Europe, which is struggling with the fight.
Above all, the brigade needs ammunition. a lot.
