Germany plans to build Europe’s strongest conventional army, Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced in May.
The government must expand troop numbers through new military service while rapidly modernizing equipment.
Politico reported Berlin plans €83 billion in procurement, with most orders going to European manufacturers.
Officials will execute 154 major defense projects between September 2025 and December 2026. Only eight percent of purchases will come from the United States.
Sipri data shows European arms imports from the US tripled between 2020 and 2024. Germany’s imports jumped 334 percent, with 70 percent sourced from the US.
Berlin now emphasizes “Buy European” to reduce reliance on American systems and strengthen local industries.
Risks and Dependencies on US Technology
Josef Braml said Germany relied on US weapons as “tribute” for protection no longer guaranteed.
He warned dependence on systems like the Patriot shield makes Europe vulnerable.
The US halted Patriot exports temporarily to reserve supplies for its own military.
Europe lacks alternatives for some weapons, such as the F-35 stealth fighter, raising sovereignty concerns.
Christophe Gomart suggested a potential “kill switch” in the F-35, but German officials dismissed remote shutdown possibilities.
Despite these concerns, Berlin maintains its F-35 order, citing the absence of European fifth-generation aircraft.
Europe Faces a Multipolar Security Challenge
Pieter Wezeman of Sipri noted NATO members work to reduce dependence and develop domestic arms industries.
The Marshall Plan and NATO built postwar transatlantic ties, but Trump’s “America First” policy shifted US priorities.
Trump urged NATO allies to spend more on defense and purchase US weapons, allocating $150 billion for the Pentagon.
Braml argued sovereignty requires Europe to protect itself without relying on American parts or software.
Merz admitted Germany will remain dependent on the US for years, despite new procurement plans.
Braml declared, “Security is gone, Pax Americana is dead,” urging Europe to act quickly to secure its defense independence.
Patent statistics underscore US dominance: between 2015 and 2021, American firms filed nearly 18,000 defense patents, while all EU states combined filed fewer than 12,000.
Germany must assume responsibility for its own security and accelerate European defense innovation to match global challenges.
