Asger Risom
Steinmeier urges a shift in defense policy amid NATO’s evolving security landscape
Marking the 70th anniversary of Germany’s entry into NATO, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier emphasized the urgent need for a stronger German military. Speaking in Brussels, he positioned re-armament as the country’s foremost political priority in the years ahead.
Germany Must Respond to New Security Realities
At the ceremony held at NATO headquarters, Steinmeier stated, “I am convinced that the most important mission of the new German government is to strengthen our armed forces,” as reported by HotNews.ro.
Steinmeier acknowledged that for Germans, grappling with the legacy of World War II complicates public support for military expansion. Nonetheless, he argued that “today, a poorly armed Germany is a greater threat to Europe than a strongly armed one,” urging the nation to adapt to Europe’s rapidly changing security dynamics in the face of Russia’s war in Ukraine and shifting U.S. defense policies.
NATO Urges Greater European Defense Spending
The speech comes amid significant changes within NATO.
U.S. President Donald Trump recently reiterated that European allies must take greater responsibility for their own conventional defense, signaling a reduction in American involvement outside the nuclear deterrent umbrella.
Currently, the U.S. accounts for over 60% of NATO defense spending, a figure Steinmeier and other European leaders recognize as unsustainable. European nations, including Germany, are now under pressure to drastically increase their defense budgets.
At the event, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte praised Germany’s recent military investments and its leadership role within the alliance.
Rutte specifically highlighted Germany’s contributions to Eastern NATO members’ security and its military support for Ukraine.
The ceremony, attended by Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and held ahead of the official anniversary date of May 6, also anticipates the upcoming election of Friedrich Merz as Germany’s next chancellor.