How Germany prepars a massive military modernisation and what could stand in its way

Donald Trump’s flirtation with Russia and the growing likelihood that Europe may have to face potential Russian aggression alone have led to a dramatic shift in Berlin’s approach to its defence capabilities.

Germany is now not only ready to invest in the Bundeswehr but is willing to do so without restrictions. This is quite literal since Berlin is considering lifting the "debt brake," a rule that limits government borrowing.

Read more to understand how Germany’s next government plans to strengthen national defence and what challenges it may face in the article by Khrystyna Bondarieva, a European Pravda journalist – Making germany strong again: everything you need to know about Berlin’s large-scale military rearmament.

On 11 March, Germany released a report on the key issues currently affecting the Bundeswehr. But to grasp the scale of these problems, it is important to recall the state of Germany’s defence capabilities just three years ago, before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

At the beginning of 2022, Germany was spending only 1.5% of its GDP on defence – below NATO’s 2% target. The Bundeswehr suffered from severe equipment shortages across all branches and faced an ammunition deficit worth tens of billions of euros.

That year, Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced an unprecedented €100 billion fund to strengthen the army, financed through additional borrowing.

As a result, NATO estimates that in the past year, Germany’s defence spending reached 2.1% of GDP, over €90 billion.

It is important to note that this special fund, created in response to an emergency, the Russian war of aggression, was not subject to the "debt brake."

Germany’s constitution recently introduced a unique rule that restricts the government’s ability to borrow money to cover budget deficits.

This special fund is set to expire in 2027.

While the military has placed numerous orders, the funding has only been enough to "patch holes."

For Germany to be properly armed, at a level where no aggressor would dare to attack, it needs far more than this.

The Bundeswehr's urgent needs require massive investments amounting to hundreds of billions of euros.

Germany is well aware that it is one of the countries most affected by a potential shift in US policy under Trump away from Europe.

To strengthen its defence, the conservative CDU/CSU bloc and the Social Democratic Party (currently negotiating a coalition government) have agreed to borrow without restrictions. Moreover, they have opted for a flexible approach with no cap on borrowing.

Germany’s leading position in Europe in terms of defence spending should also reassure Ukraine, as part of these funds will be allocated to support the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Signals from the future coalition suggest they intend to increase aid to Ukraine.

However, approving plans is only half the battle. The real challenge is implementing them. And here, Friedrich Merz, who is likely to become Germany’s next chancellor, is already facing obstacles.

Even before officially taking office, he has begun to deviate from his key campaign promises.

Yet the biggest obstacle to realising these ambitious plans is the need to amend the German constitution, a move that currently lacks the necessary votes.

The only viable alternative is to pass constitutional changes now, while the current Bundestag is still in session. However, negotiations with the Greens remain a sticking point. Time is running out.