Germany will build Europe’s strongest conventional army, Chancellor Friedrich Merz declared in May.
The government must address personnel shortages and rapidly equip troops with modern weaponry.
Berlin plans a €83 billion procurement program, directing most orders to European manufacturers and only eight percent to the USA.
Officials intend to complete 154 major defense projects between September 2025 and December 2026.
Sipri data shows European NATO members doubled arms imports from 2020-2024, with Germany’s imports rising 334 percent, mostly from the US.
Germany now promotes a “Buy European” approach to reduce dependency on American military systems.
Risks of American Dependence
US expert Josef Braml said Germany previously paid “tribute” by buying American weapons that created dependence.
The Patriot missile system remains vital, but the Pentagon restricts exports, reserving systems for US forces.
Europe still lacks solutions for some systems, including the F-35 stealth fighter, which Germany continues to purchase.
French intelligence chief Christophe Gomart warned of a potential “kill switch” in F-35s, though Germany disputes its existence.
Braml stresses that sovereignty requires countries to maintain independent defense capabilities, avoiding dependence on foreign spare parts and software.
Europe Faces Multipolar Challenges
Pieter Wezeman of Sipri said Europe is strengthening domestic defense industries to reduce reliance on the US.
The Marshall Plan and NATO historically cemented transatlantic security ties, but US policies under Trump prioritized “America First.”
Trump pushed NATO members to spend more and buy American arms, allocating $150 billion for the Pentagon’s “Peace through Strength” agenda.
Braml warns Europe must establish independence to survive in a multipolar world.
Patent statistics show US firms dominate defense technology, filing almost 18,000 patents from 2015-2021, while all EU states filed fewer than 12,000.
Braml concludes: Germany must now assume full responsibility for its security and reduce reliance on America.
