First conventional army in Europe: German imperialism prepares a plan for massive rearmament.

On Wednesday, April 22 in Berlin, Boris Pistorius, the German Federal Minister of Defense (SPD), made public the “Gesamtkonzeption der militärischen Verteidigung” (General Concept of Military Defense). Following the “Law on the Modernization of Military Service” adopted by the Bundestag at the end of 2025 and the commitment to reach 3.5% of GDP for defense spending by 2029, along with an additional budget of 1.5% dedicated to defense infrastructure, this publication further paves the way for a more militaristic approach in Germany, risking escalation in the militarization of the continent.

An Aligned Germany with Trump, Leading the Arms Race in Europe

As threats of a US military disengagement in Europe and a more general decline of US imperialism persist, pulling European powers into a strategic crisis, they also fuel hegemonic rivalries on the continent. Following the update of the French strategic review a few months ago, Germany now elevates its bellicose ambitions and produces its first defense strategy since World War II. This message, sent to the US as well as German imperialism’s European rivals, notably France, asserts that “Germany will assume additional burdens and, in doing so, will assume targeted conventional strategic responsibilities for Europe,” strengthening Germany’s strategic weight in the eyes of allies, particularly the US.

This military strategy emphasizes a rapid reinforcement of personnel, military capacities, and German autonomy within NATO, under the belief that as the leading European economy, Germany must and will play a leading role within NATO, especially militarily.

Behind the security rhetoric, the document identifies two major zones of interest for German imperialism: Eastern Europe, where German capital thrives, and the strategic military action in the European neighborhood, including North Africa, West Africa, the Sahel region, the Middle East, and regions that could potentially solve German capitalism’s energy supply problems.

The strategy envisions Germany’s armed forces deploying more autonomously within the Alliance, strengthening deterrence and defense, relieving US troops, and enhancing European operational capabilities.

A Comprehensive Rearmament Plan

In this 35-page operational strategy, Germany explicitly positions itself as a leading power within the new European defense architecture. The Bundeswehr aims to become the most powerful conventional army in Europe, enhancing its defense and resilience capabilities in the short term and achieving a significant capacity increase in the medium term, ultimately establishing technological superiority in the long term. This militaristic leap is justified by the perceived threat from Russia, referred to throughout the document as the most immediate threat to peace and security in Germany and the Euro-Atlantic space.

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