Berlin (TDI): German Chancellor Friedrich Merz vowed on Wednesday to build up “the strongest conventional army in Europe” as the continent faces a hostile Russia while the Ukraine war rages on.
This is appropriate for Europe’s most populous and economically powerful country to build up the strongest conventional army in Europe, Merz told parliament. “Our friends and allies also expect this from us. Indeed, they practically demand it,” he said.
In his first major address to the Bundestag since his government was inaugurated last week, Merz pledged to provide all financial means required for the long-underfunded defense forces.
Germany, with its dark World War II history, has long been reluctant to spend vast resources on its military and defense funding dropped off sharply after the Cold War as European nations relied on the United States for security.
US President Donald Trump has demanded that Germany and other partners spend more on common defense and thrown into doubt Washington’s future commitment to NATO.
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Merz has promised a greater diplomatic and security role for Germany in the continent at a time of high geopolitical tensions. He cautioned on Wednesday that anyone who seriously believes that Moscow would be satisfied with a victory over Ukraine or with the annexation of parts of the country is mistaken.
His government has already cleared the way for a spending “bazooka” worth hundreds of billions of euros in extra defense funding and infrastructure by getting a financial plan passed by the previous parliament. Strengthening our armed forces is our top priority, he said.
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The German government will provide all the financial means to fulfill the armed forces’ needs to become Europe’s strongest conventional army.”
He also emphasized continued backing for Ukraine but also stated that Germany is not a party to war, and “we don’t want to become one”.
Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
