Germany plans to build Europe’s strongest conventional military, Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced in May.
The government faces two challenges: addressing troop shortages with new service models and rapidly modernizing equipment.
Officials drafted an €83 billion procurement program, Politico reported. Most contracts will go to European suppliers, with only eight percent reserved for the U.S.
Between September 2025 and December 2026, Berlin expects 154 major defense purchases.
Europe’s reliance on American arms soared since 2020. Imports from the U.S. to Europe, including Ukraine, tripled compared to the previous five years.
American exports to Europe rose from 13 percent of the total share to 35 percent. Germany’s own imports jumped 334 percent, nearly 70 percent from U.S. sources.
Experts Warn of Dependency
US expert Josef Braml linked the shift to Donald Trump’s stance. He argued Germany no longer receives protection worth paying for.
Braml said buying American arms created dependence on U.S. systems like the Patriot defense batteries.
Washington has restricted Patriot exports, keeping systems for its own use.
Germany continues to rely on U.S. aircraft, particularly the F-35 fighter jets. Europe lacks alternatives with equivalent stealth and fifth-generation technology.
Speculation about a “kill switch” in the F-35 surfaced, suggesting Washington could disable jets. German defense officials denied the existence of such a system.
Nevertheless, Berlin confirmed its order, stressing that no European model meets current military demands.
Europe Confronts Strategic Reality
Sipri researcher Pieter Wezeman noted Europe’s attempts to cut dependency by strengthening domestic arms production.
The Marshall Plan and NATO shaped Germany’s postwar reliance on U.S. security. Trump’s “America First” policies hardened this imbalance.
He demanded NATO allies spend five percent of GDP on defense and buy U.S. weapons. His proposed “One Big Beautiful Bill” set aside $150 billion for the Pentagon.
Braml argued sovereignty requires self-reliance in weapons, software, and spare parts. Without it, Europe risks blackmail.
Merz admitted in Washington that Germany will depend on America for years. But Braml declared Pax Americana finished.
Patent data confirm U.S. dominance: nearly 18,000 defense patents from 2015–2021, compared to fewer than 12,000 across the EU.
Germany, with 4,300 patents, trails France but remains tied to U.S. innovation.
Braml insisted Germany must secure itself swiftly in a multipolar world. If Europe fails to become an independent pole, he warned, it will remain vulnerable.
