BERLIN – Germany may increase its armed forces to 230,000 personnel, surpassing its current target of 203,000, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced on Wednesday. The move comes as NATO prepares to strengthen its collective defense capabilities following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Currently, the Bundeswehr, Germany’s armed forces, comprises about 180,000 personnel—20,000 short of its current target. Efforts to boost recruitment have been hampered by longstanding challenges. Pistorius told parliament in Berlin that NATO’s new capability targets, set for 2025, necessitate further expansion.
“We are planning to raise the number of uniformed personnel to 203,000, and probably heading rather in the direction of 230,000,” Pistorius said, signaling Germany’s commitment to meeting NATO’s increasing demands.
NATO is preparing to adopt more rigorous force and equipment targets in response to a deteriorating security environment. Planners estimate the alliance may need an additional 35 to 50 brigades—equivalent to 105,000 to 350,000 soldiers—to withstand potential Russian aggression.
As a key NATO member, Germany traditionally provides around 10% of the alliance’s capabilities. Under the updated targets, Berlin would need to contribute an additional 20,000 to 30,000 combat troops, effectively creating one more division beyond the three divisions currently in development. The German Defense Ministry has declined to comment on the classified details of NATO’s planning.
Germany significantly increased military spending after the Russian invasion, aligning its defense budget with NATO’s 2% GDP target for the first time in decades. However, sustaining this level of spending remains a contentious issue. Last month, budget disputes led to the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s three-party coalition, prompting a snap election scheduled for February.
The potential expansion of Germany’s armed forces underscores its strategic role within NATO while highlighting the political and financial hurdles of bolstering defense in a shifting geopolitical landscape.