Merz pledges to build Europe’s strongest army with full financial backing

In his first parliamentary address after taking office, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz pledged to “provide all necessary financial resources” to make the German army the most powerful in Europe.

“Strength deters aggression; weakness invites it,” Merz stated during his speech in the Federal Parliament (Bundestag).

The Chancellor added that Germany must assume greater responsibility for the continent’s defense, citing “increasing threats from Russia.”

“The federal government will provide all necessary financial resources for the German Armed Forces to become the strongest conventional army in Europe,” Merz declared.

Merz’s black-red (CDU-SPD) coalition government had previously agreed to reform the country’s strict debt rules before taking office, aiming to bolster the military after years of underinvestment.

This measure exempts defense spending exceeding 1% of GDP from Germany’s long-standing constitutional budget deficit limit, known as the debt brake.

The debt brake had repeatedly hampered the previous German government’s efforts to strengthen national security and meet NATO’s target of allocating 2% of GDP to defense.

However, money alone will not suffice. Speaking in the Bundestag a few hours after Merz, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said that Germany “still does not have enough personnel for what its armed forces need to do.”

The number of German soldiers is planned to increase to 203,000 by 2031. Yet, according to the annual report of the German armed forces ombudsman, the number stagnated at around 181,000 at the end of last year.

Pistorius indicated that the new government aims to enhance the attractiveness of military service and expand reserve forces through a new voluntary military service model.

Nevertheless, Pistorius mentioned that if necessary, Germany could reinstate compulsory military service if they fail to find enough volunteers.

Germany suspended compulsory military service in 2011, but the legal provisions related to conscription remain in effect.

Pistorius expressed cautious optimism about young people’s willingness to enlist. He noted a significant increase in applications to the army last year and a more than 20% rise in recruitment in the first quarter compared to the same period the previous year.

Germany’s new military service system is modeled on the Swedish system. Young Germans will be asked to complete a questionnaire about their willingness and ability to perform military service, and potential candidates will be assessed based on their responses.