Germany bets on a self-reliant defense as Russia looms
Facing a rising Russian threat and a sometimes fraught U.S.-Germany relationship, Berlin is accelerating military buildup to be capable by 2029, including larger defense spending, stockpile growth, and industrial ramp‑up for drones, to deter aggression and strengthen NATO’s eastern flank. German generals say ties with American counterparts remain solid, but domestic opinion on conscription is divided and public debates about Germany’s role in its own security persist as the Bundeswehr expands.
