Particle.news

Download on the App Store

NATO Asks Germany for 40,000 More Troops in Expanded Brigade Push

The move precedes a June summit in The Hague where NATO plans to press members to spend up to 5 percent of GDP on defense.

Image
Image

Overview

  • NATO has requested that Germany field seven additional brigades, amounting to roughly 40,000 soldiers, to bolster the alliance’s front-line strength.
  • The alliance aims to lift its total brigade requirement from about 80 units to between 120 and 130, representing a roughly 50 percent increase.
  • Germany currently deploys eight brigades and is building a ninth formation in Lithuania, which is expected to become operational by 2027.
  • The Bundeswehr faces a shortfall of around 20,000 regular soldiers due to ongoing recruitment challenges.
  • NATO leadership is urging member states to raise defense budgets from the 2 percent guideline toward 5 percent of GDP at the upcoming Hague summit to address the perceived Russian threat.