Germany’s military is reportedly preparing for potential conflict, aiming to be ready for offensive operations by 2029.
The German armed forces have been instructed to significantly bolster their weapons reserves by 2029, a year the government foresees a possible threat from Russia, according to a directive obtained by Reuters.
The directive, titled ‘Directive Priorities for the Bolstering of Readiness’ and signed on May 19 by Bundeswehr Inspector General Carsten Breuer, was reported by the news agency on Sunday.
Moscow has refuted any aggressive intentions toward NATO, dismissing Western speculation about a potential attack as fear-mongering intended to justify increased militarization by European members of the bloc.
Breuer’s order prioritizes the acquisition of advanced air defense systems and long-range precision strike capabilities with a range exceeding 500km. He also instructed the military to increase ammunition stockpiles, develop new electronic warfare capabilities, and create space-based systems for both defensive and offensive purposes.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced on Monday that the government has removed restrictions on the range of weapons it can supply to Ukraine. This is seen as a possible indication of the delivery of long-range Taurus missiles, which the previous government had declined to provide.
In March, the German parliament modified the law to exclude military spending from the ‘debt brake,’ which limits government borrowing. Merz has proposed allocating up to 5% of the nation’s GDP to security projects by 2032, a substantial rise from the current 2%. He asserted this investment would make the Bundeswehr the most powerful military in Europe.
The rearmament plans require increased personnel. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stated in a recent interview that the ruling coalition intends to introduce a recruitment model similar to Sweden’s, potentially ending the all-volunteer system as early as next year.
These military initiatives occur amidst economic difficulties, including de-industrialization and economic stagnation. On Sunday, Bild reported that ThyssenKrupp, a company with over 200 years of history, is undergoing a major restructuring amounting to a breakup. The report stated the company plans to reduce its headquarters staff from 500 to 100, transfer its steel mills to Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky, sell its naval shipyard Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) on the public market, and sell off most other divisions.
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