Chancellor Friedrich Merz pledged to make the Bundeswehr the strongest conventional force in Europe.
The government must address troop shortages with new military service while modernizing equipment quickly.
Politico reported Berlin plans an €83 billion procurement program, with most orders going to European manufacturers.
The plan includes 154 major purchases from September 2025 to December 2026. Only eight percent of deals involve the USA.
Arms Imports Highlight Shifting Balance
Sipri reported European imports of US weapons tripled between 2020 and 2024 compared to the prior five years.
Europe received 35 percent of American arms exports, up from 13 percent in 2015-2019.
European NATO states doubled their total arms imports, with two thirds sourced from the USA.
Germany’s imports rose 334 percent, with 70 percent from American suppliers.
Washington also expanded its global dominance, growing its export share from 35 to 43 percent.
Berlin now pursues the “Buy European” policy to reduce dependence.
Experts Warn of Strategic Vulnerability
Josef Braml argued Trump exposed American unreliability, forcing Europe to rethink security dependence.
He said Germany paid “tribute” by buying US systems like the Patriot defense shield.
The Pentagon recently restricted Patriot exports, prioritizing US needs.
Germany continues ordering F-35 jets, which Europe cannot yet produce.
Speculation about a US “kill switch” raised fears of hidden control, though officials denied its existence.
Sipri researcher Pieter Wezeman noted Europe has begun strengthening its own arms industries.
Braml insisted sovereignty requires independence in defense technology and spare parts.
Trump’s “America First” agenda demands NATO partners raise defense spending and buy US weapons.
Despite Merz’s pledge, he admitted Germany will remain reliant on Washington for years.
Braml concluded, “Security is gone, Pax Americana is dead.”
He warned Germany must build independent strength quickly in a multipolar world.
Patent data supports US dominance: American firms filed 18,000 defense patents between 2015 and 2021, far more than Europe’s 12,000.
Germany ranked second in the EU after France but remained tied to US industry.
Braml stressed Europe must establish itself as an autonomous global power or risk decline.
