ADVERTISEMENT
Germany plans to spend up to €83 billion on European-made weapons and reduce dependence on US defence systems as Chancellor Friedrich Merz pushes to build Europe's "strongest conventional armed force" amid doubts about Washington's reliability under Donald Trump.
According to reports, the German government plans 154 major defence procurements between September 2025 and December 2026, with only 8% from US suppliers compared to the previously heavy reliance on US systems.
The shift follows US President Trump's demands that NATO partners increase their defence spending to 5% of GDP, while purchasing more US weapons, prompting Berlin to pursue a "Buy European" strategy.
Europe's dependence on American defence equipment has increased significantly in recent years. According to the Stockholm-based peace research institute SIPRI, arms imports from the US to Europe - including Ukraine - more than tripled between 2020 and 2024 compared to the previous five years.
For the first time in two decades, the large
Continue Reading on Euronews
This preview shows approximately 15% of the article. Read the full story on the publisher's website to support quality journalism.