Germany’s military boost: 230,000 troops on horizon to meet NATO’s call

Germany may increase the size of the Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces) to 230,000 personnel, surpassing the previously set target of 203,000.

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius confirmed the decision in a speech to the Bundestag (German parliament), Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

“We are planning to increase the number of troops to 203,000 and probably rather closer to 230,000 because of NATO's capacity building targets,” Pistorius said.

Earlier, Markus Faber, the Chairman of the Bundestag Defence Committee, suggested that the German Armed Forces would need an additional 35,000 soldiers to meet NATO’s new demands. The Bundeswehr currently has around 180,000 personnel. The German government had initially aimed for 203,000 soldiers by 2031, but Faber noted that this would still fall short of NATO’s needs.

In October, it was reported that NATO intends to establish 49 new combat-ready brigades, each consisting of about 5,000 soldiers, bringing the total number of brigades to 131. Additionally, the number of combat corps will increase from 6 to 15, and division headquarters will rise from 24 to 38. The alliance also plans to expand its air defence systems from 293 to 1,467, a nearly fivefold increase. These will include advanced systems such as Patriot, IRIS-T SLM, and Skyranger. The number of helicopters is also expected to rise from 90 to 104.

On December 19, the Bundestag’s budget committee approved 38 procurement projects, each worth about €25 million, for the Bundeswehr, totalling around €21 billion. These projects are part of the government’s push to strengthen Germany’s military capabilities. According to the German Defence Ministry, these approvals signal a commitment to the readiness of the Bundeswehr and support for Germany’s NATO allies.

"By approving 38 procurement projects worth €25 million each, the Bundestag has set the course for the combat readiness of our Bundeswehr and sent an important signal to our allies," said the German Defence Ministry. "These decisions will equip Bundeswehr soldiers with much-needed systems."

The procurement projects approved by the Bundestag will be financed through a special fund of approximately €7 billion, the defence budget, and general expenditure allocations. These funds will support the development of various systems across the Bundeswehr, ensuring that all branches of the Armed Forces are well-equipped to meet current and future challenges.

Since 2022, NATO has viewed Russia as the most significant and immediate threat to its member states' security. To counter this threat, NATO aims to enhance its military power. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin has dismissed the collective West’s claims about Russia’s intentions toward NATO countries, calling them "nonsense" during a meeting with world news agency heads at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

By Tamilla Hasanova