US President Donald Trump may feel Vandit: Germany’s new Foreign Minister, Johan Wadeful, said that week that the government had accepted the demand for the forecast to invest 5% of GDP in defense. Speaking at a meeting of NATO Foreign Minister in Turkey on Thursday, Wadeful said that Germany supported NATO’s proposal to provide 3.5% for classic military purposes and an additional 1.5% for defense-related infrastructure.
However, it will only be clear that all members of the security coalition are planning to invest at the NATO Summit for the end of June in the Hague of the Netherlands.
A day after German Chanman Frederick Merz made Wadeful’s comments a day after the announcement, he wanted to convert Bundesvehar to “the strongest traditional army in Europe”.
Germany is planning a historical security change
If Germany moves forward and increases its defense expenditure by 5% of GDP, it will make a historic change in security policy. Since the end of the Cold War, it mainly depends on the culture of international cooperation, diplomacy and strategic military restraint. But former Chancellor Olaf Sholaz on February 27, 2022, Turnaround speech, Russia marked a twist point three days after Ukraine started his full -scale invasion.
Subsequently, the German government set up a special fund of € 100 billion (about 112 billion) for Bundesvehar. In 2024, regular defense expenses were € 90 billion, around 2.1% of GDP. Up to 5%, request a future defense budget of more than € 160 trillion per year. There will be heavy implications that have not yet fully calculated the bees, and for which have not yet been discovered.
Around 182,000 soldiers are currently on active duty in Bundesvehar. The Ministry of Defense plans to lease those numbers up to 203,000 by 2031, with some experts talk of 240,000 soldiers. All branches of the armed forces will be affected by modernization efforts: objectives are to change and expand old tanks, aircraft and ships to develop and expand the command and control capabilities.
Prominent industrial players in Germany are Rheinmetall, Airbus Defense and Space and Diehl groups, growing rapidly towards export with foreign partners.
France only European Union State with one nuclear determination
France, which is the only nuclear power in the European Union, has pursued a strategy of global appearance and military autonomy. Around 203,000 soldiers serve in the French Army. Gendarmerie and other paramilitary units have 175,000 members, and at least 26,000 reservoirs.
Thanks to its Charles de Gaul nuclear-managed aircraft carriers and strategic submarines, the French Navy is therefore an important role in France’s atomic deterioration strategy. The French Rafale fighter aircraft, some of which are atoms, is aimed at securing air superiority.
The French defense budget has increased significantly in the Incourch Presentant Emmanuel Macron 2017. In a dramatic television speech in early March, Macron spoke of the “Russian threat” affecting all countries in Europe and said that France should almost double its defense spending.
France’s military budget used to be comparable to Germany, but it has helped to create a more powerful army, not at least because the state, which has a stake in the weapon industry, has always strategically boosted it.
Poland acts as a bullwark on NATO’s eastern flank
Over the years, Poland has invested heavy in the army with the goal of developing the strongest land forces in Europe. In 2024, it allocated 4.12% of its GDP in its defense budget. The largest state on NATO’s eastern flank especially wants to stop Russia.
Polish land forces and the regional defense army currently consist of around 150,000 soldiers. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk recently said that the government is working on plans to expand rank for 500,000 soldiers for the country, including the reservoir.
At the same time, the army and the Air Force are to be supplied with more modern equipment, including more than 600 warfare tanks, including bees order between South Korea and the US, as well as rocket artillery systems, drones and F -35 fighter jets.
Polish Navy, however, is considered weak.
UK focuses on high tech
The UK is planning to increase its defense spending, only less than 2.4% of GDP. Focus wants to be on high tech: drone, artificial intelligence and laser system. The Royal Navy, which has two aircraft carriers in the service, and the Royal Air Force is already very modern. The government has planned to buy dozens of F -35 fighter jets from the US.
With about 140,000 active soldiers, the British Army is comparatively small. Unlike many European Union countries, there has been no significant increase in personnel at present.
Last year, British Prime Minister Kir Strandmer insisted on Britain’s loyalty to NATO and said that the country plays “full role” in the Wild alliance.
UK military equipment, especially the nuclear weapons stored on submarines, are more dependent on American technology than many countries of the European Union.
Italy has powerful Air Force, but army in need for improvement
For NATO, Italy allocated 1.49% for its defense budget in 2024, meaning that it is still below 2% target. Nevertheless, the country is one of the Heavyweight in Europe, with 165,000 soldiers on active duty, two aircraft carriers and one powerful Air Force.
However, Italy’s land forces need old and improvement. But it is ready to change, with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni saying that she wants her country to have the strongest force in Europe. Italy has ordered a 1,000 match and multi-purepose tank more than the German company Rheinmetall.
In strategic terms, Italy is largely focused on the Mediterranean region and securing global trade routes.
Global firepower ranking is unlikely
Despite the thesis multibillion euro rearments programs in Europe, at least in the moderate period, there is a very low changes in the global ranking of military power.
For reviewing 2025 global firepower, the United States clearly moves forward and is followed by Russia, China, India and South Korea. Britain is ranked sixth, while France ranks ninth. Germany is currently ranked 11th.
For its annual review, the global firepower platform evaluates more than 60 individual factors, from the number of tanks and naval capabilities to the manpower, to compare the military strength of nations.
This article was original in German.
