Germany’s incoming leaders are planning to dramatically ramp up military spending after signs the Trump administration could definitively pivot away from European defense. DW breaks down the most urgent next steps for likely next chancellor Friedrich Merz: Procuring drones, satellites and more high-tech gear. Recruiting or conscripting tens of thousands of troops. Surging and streamlining the defense industry. Potentially devising a whole new approach to nuclear weapons. And finding the money and political will to do all this. Failure could leave Europe prone to intimidation or even domination by Russia. In this edition of Berlin Briefing, Ulrike Franke of the ECFR joins DW’s Richard Walker, Nina Haase and Michaela Küfner.
0:00 Intro
01:39 Transatlantic rift
04:00 “Strategic enablers”
09:16 Troop numbers
12:45 Defense industry
17:51 “Nuclear sharing”
24:10 Funding options
31:17 “Unbelievably frustrating”
34:33 Ukraine
41:25 A new national mission?
LINKS
Likely incoming chancellor Friedrich Merz reacting to speech by JD Vance
Defense minister Boris Pistorius at Munich Security Conference
Why Germany isn’t leading Europe’s defense
Europe turns to Germany’s Merz for leadership and stability
https://www.dw.com/en/germany-election-merz-europe-stability-leadership-transatlantic-usv2/a-71735853
Germany’s brigade in Lithuania
https://www.dw.com/en/german-soldiers-help-beef-up-lithuanias-defense/video-70211191
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News post in February 28, 2025, 12:04 pm.
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