Overview

• Germany marked 70 years in NATO with a ceremony in Brussels, reaffirming its commitment to the alliance amid evolving security challenges.
• President Steinmeier declared strengthening the Bundeswehr as the new government's top priority, promising to make Germany the backbone of Europe's conventional defense.
• The CDU, CSU, and SPD coalition partners have agreed to significantly increase defense budgets, modernize military technology, and introduce a voluntary service model.
• NATO's updated regional defense plans require Germany to add five to six new combat brigades, increasing Bundeswehr personnel to at least 230,000 troops.
• Public support for increased defense spending remains high, with around three-quarters of Germans backing enhanced military investment.