A parliamentary report warns Germany’s armed forces (Bundeswehr) are aging and shrinking despite efforts to boost defense spending. Personnel numbers dropped slightly to 181,200 in 2024, with average age rising to 34 from 32. The goal of reaching over 200,000 troops by 2031 remains distant after delays.
While Germany met NATO’s 2% GDP defense spending target in 2024, 82% of a €100 billion special fund agreed in 2022 has already been exhausted. Political parties seeking to overhaul borrowing rules for increased military and economic funding face parliamentary resistance, needing a two-thirds majority to amend the constitution.
The report also highlights poor conditions: many barracks are in “disastrous” states, and equipment lags behind requirements. Negotiations between political leaders aim to address these challenges but progress remains stalled due to legislative hurdles.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/report-says-german-military-is-ageing-shrinking-parties-seek-funding-2025-03-11