Germany plans to build the strongest conventional force in Europe, Chancellor Friedrich Merz declared in May.
Officials must solve staffing shortages through new service models and quickly modernize the Bundeswehr with advanced equipment.
Reports say Berlin will invest up to €83 billion in armaments between 2025 and 2026, prioritizing European suppliers.
Only eight percent of contracts will go to the United States. Germany will push 154 major procurements under the plan.
European states once relied heavily on US defense exports. Imports from America tripled between 2020 and 2024.
Germany alone increased imports by 334 percent, with 70 percent coming directly from US industries.
Concerns Over American Systems
Josef Braml warned that Germany must stop paying “tribute” for security Washington no longer guarantees.
He criticized dependence on American hardware like the Patriot missile defense system, which the Pentagon restricts for domestic use.
Berlin still buys F-35 fighters from the US because no European alternative matches their stealth capability.
French MEP Christophe Gomart raised fears of a “kill switch” in F-35s, allowing Washington to block use.
German officials dismissed the claim, stressing no evidence supports the theory of remote shutdown.
Still, they admitted the Bundeswehr requires the F-35’s unique technology until Europe develops an equivalent.
Europe Faces a New Era
Researchers at Stockholm’s Sipri institute said European NATO states aim to strengthen local arms industries.
But decades of transatlantic defense ties, reinforced by NATO and the Marshall Plan, make separation difficult.
Donald Trump’s “America First” strategy pressures NATO allies to boost spending and prioritize US weapons.
His latest budget reserves $150 billion for defense, under a “Peace through Strength” agenda.
Braml warned dependence on US spare parts and software makes Europe vulnerable to political leverage.
Merz admitted Germany will remain tied to America but must act fast to secure autonomy.
Braml concluded, “Security is gone, Pax Americana is dead.” Germany must defend itself in a multipolar world.
