If the question is how the Rearme in Europethe answer right now has taken an unexpected turn. In the summer we count that the old continent had realized that he should start on the roads And that, if necessary, could find a problem derived from industries that compete for the same gears: cars and trains. However, what there were few doubts was that the United States was waiting to start signing contracts.
Until a plan B has appeared.
The strategic turn of Germany. Yes, Germany has decided to undertake an ambitious rearme program valued in More than 80,000 million of euros, which will mark a deep change in the industrial balance of defense in Europe. According to documents obtained by politicianBerlin plans to sign 154 contracts of great size between September 2025 and December 2026, modernizing all branches of its armed forces.
Without American help. However, if the German plan surprises something is because it practically seeks Washington do without. Documents talk about just 8% Of those acquisitions will go to the American industry, in contrast to Germany’s role as one of Washington’s main clients in recent years. If in 2023 Berlin came to buy almost 14,000 million Of dollars in American military material, now he chooses to reinforce the European industrial base.
In fact, the largest budgeted item is for the program of F-127 frigatesdesigned by the German TKMS, with an estimated cost of 26,000 million euros. He Eurofighter Tranche 5the vehicles Rheinmetall Boxer, a new wheel destroyer, the modernization of the missile of Taurus cruise or the commitment to national air defense systems Like the Iris-T They complete the portrait of a strategy that prioritizes European industrial autonomy against transatlantic agency.
Eurofighter Tranche 5
The transatlantic balance. This reorientation clashes with the Trump wisheswhat after seal an agreement Commercial with Ursula von der Leyen proclaimed that the EU would buy “hundreds of billions” in American weapons. But in Europe decisions are national, not Brussels, and Berlin sends an unequivocal sign that the financial muscle will turn into the continental industry.
The purchase Patriot Americans and some complementary missiles will barely reach 6,800 million of euros, while most of the resources will go to European programs, even to problematic projects Like Eurodronethat despite delays and cost overheads receives additional funds. In other words, Germany thus consolidates its role as the locomotive of the European rearme, not only modernizing its army but also marking the way to follow for the whole of the Union.
Germany as leader of the rearme. In parallel to his own plan, Berlin has presented to Brussels a proposal of continental scope, collected in a leaked document For the Financial Times. There he claims to become the engine of the European response to the Russian threat, promoting the creation of “collective capacities coalitions”: groups of countries that develop and acquire weapons systems in priority areas such as anti -aircraft defense.
Germany claims to be ready to assume leadership and asks that the projects focus especially on protect the eastern flank of the EU, today the most exposed area against Moscow. To achieve this, he proposes that the European Defense Agency become the central coordination and “pairing” platform of needs, with all governments forced to share data to identify deficiencies and avoid duplication.
Opening towards Ukraine and tensions. The German plan has a significant political nuance: unlike Paris, which defends a strict European industrial protectionism, Berlin wants these projects are open to Ukraine Already third eligible countries, reinforcing the integration of kyiv into the Western Defense Architecture.
It is, therefore, a clear pulse with France, but also a wink to Eastern Europe, which demands an agile and effective rearma Before the Russian threat. At the same time, Germany asks for soften the rules of state and competition aid, so that industries can increase their production production quickly in case of conflict, even with some deregulation that allows responding to a “state of defense” of emergency.
The money debate. In the financial field, Berlin frontally rejects the idea of mutualizing European debt, as they demand South countriesand bets on using existing instruments: A loan scheme for 150,000 million euros, a subsidy program of 1.5 billion still in negotiation and the contributions of national budgets. This ensures that each country maintains its own fiscal responsibility while driving common rearmament.
The strategic horizon. If you want also, Germany, which until recently was criticized for its lukewarm and Russian energy dependenceit seems to be facing a radical turn that now positions it as the center of gravity of the European rearma. Your internal plan of 83,000 million of euros, together with his aspiration of Lead coordination EU armed, draw a panorama in which Berlin seeks so much to reinforce his Bundeswehr how to forge a continental industrial base that can sustain European defense Without depending of Washington’s fluctuations.
The message, a priori, seems clear: while the war in Ukraine extends and Russia remains the main threat, Germany aims to be the country that not only rearms its army, but marks the pattern of the rest of Europe as a whole.
Image | US Army Europe, André Gerwing
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