Germany’s first military strategy - what it entails
By 2039, the Bundeswehr is to become Europe’s strongest conventional army. The key questions and answers about this topic.
In April 2026, Germany presented a military strategy for the first time. The key questions and answers about this topic.
Why has Germany adopted its first military strategy?
The strategy is a response to the current security situation. Crises and conflicts are increasing and often have a global impact. Germany sees Russia as the greatest threat. Defending against hybrid attacks has become a permanent task, explains Defence Minister Boris Pistorius in his foreword to the military strategy. Germany will “take on more conventional strategic responsibility for Europe” in future.
What does the concept encompass?
The “overall concept of military defence” comprises two parts. Firstly, the military strategy: it describes the threat situation and how the Bundeswehr will respond to it. And secondly, the “capability profile” or “plan for the armed forces”. It outlines how the Bundeswehr is to be transformed into Europe’s strongest conventional army by 2039. The details of the strategy are secret. The targets for increasing the army’s size are known: the number of active servicemen and servicewomen is to increase from 186,000 to 260,000 by 2035, while the number of reservists will rise from around 70,000 to 200,000 by 2033.
How is Germany’s military strategy related to the strategies of the EU and NATO?
According to the concept: “Germany’s defence concepts and planning are all within the framework of the Alliance. For credible collective defence, however, the Bundeswehr must take on a new strategic role.” As the largest European economy and largest allied power without its own nuclear forces, Germany bears a particular responsibility, according to the Ministry of Defence.
How is the expansion of the Bundeswehr being funded?
The so-called debt brake has been relaxed to make the additional defence expenditure possible. It stipulates that Germany is only legally permitted to take on new debt amounting to 0.35 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP). In March 2025, the Bundestag voted to amend the Basic Law. As a result, the debt brake has been lifted when it comes to defence and security spending - this applies to all expenditure that exceeds one percent of GDP.
