general
Russia's threat forces Germany to rebuild its military
Facing a perceived Russian military build-up, Germany has changed its laws and doubled down on spending, personnel and capabilities to deter attack and reduce reliance on the United States.
Mar 27th 2026 · Germany
Insights
- Germany plans to raise defence spending to about €162bn in 2029, up from €95bn in 2025, targeting 5% of GDP.
- General Carsten Breuer warns Russia could be able to launch a major attack on NATO territory by 2029.
- Germany has 182,000 active personnel and plans to add 20,000 within a year and 60,000 within a decade plus a 200,000-strong reserve.
- Parliament lifted constitutional borrowing limits in 2025 to fund rearmament and encourage domestic munitions and defence production.
- Germany will expand its permanent troop presence in Lithuania from about 1,200 to nearly 5,000 and is prioritising ISR, drones, deep precision strike and space capabilities.
- Public support and recruitment are rising, with 16,100 applicants in February, a 20% increase year on year, and 5,300 new recruits, up 14%.