Germany Pledges to Build Europe's Strongest Conventional Military

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz declared his goal to transform the Bundeswehr into the strongest conventional army in Europe, backed by an unprecedented defense budget reaching €150 billion annually by 2029. The announcement includes a €377 billion long-term acquisition plan covering F-35 fighters, Tomahawk missiles, MQ-9B drones and other advanced weapons systems. The pledge comes as Germany seeks to fill European security gaps amid deteriorating U.S.-European relations and ongoing Russian aggression, with Berlin also strengthening nuclear deterrence partnerships with France and the United Kingdom. Analysts note Germany still faces deep-strike capability gaps and institutional hurdles that could constrain rapid military transformation.