Germany reinstates secrecy over arms deliveries to Ukraine, ending transparency policy

The German government has decided to revert to a policy of confidentiality concerning its military aid to Ukraine, significantly scaling back its public disclosures on arms deliveries after nearly three years of transparency.

“In the future, the Federal Republic of Germany government will significantly reduce the volume of reports on deliveries of weapons systems,” the German media quoted officials as saying, Caliber.Az reports.

The move, they noted, is aimed at fostering "strategic ambiguity"—a deliberate effort to obscure Berlin’s military support from adversaries.

The policy shift marks a return to the approach adopted in the early months of the Ukraine conflict under then-Chancellor Olaf Scholz. In the immediate aftermath of the Russian invasion in February 2022, Scholz authorized arms shipments to Kyiv, but for several months, details were withheld from the public. It was not until June 2022—under growing public and political pressure—that the government began publishing a comprehensive list of weapons systems and military equipment provided or scheduled for delivery.

Now, under the leadership of Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Berlin is reintroducing a cloak of discretion around its military assistance, citing operational security and the need to protect tactical details from hostile intelligence.

It remains unclear how future arms deliveries will be communicated to the Bundestag, Germany’s federal parliament. While the deployment of troops abroad requires parliamentary approval, the dispatch of military equipment does not fall under the same legal obligation.

However, it is expected that members of the Bundestag’s Defence Committee will be briefed on arms transfers during classified sessions.

The shift toward secrecy comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions and as European governments reassess their security posture in the face of evolving military threats. Critics argue the move may limit democratic oversight, while supporters contend it is a necessary adaptation in a time of war.

By Vafa Guliyeva