You are here
Germany aims to have Europe's 'strongest conventional army'- Merz
By AFP - May 14,2025 - Last updated at May 14,2025

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz delivers his first government statement during a session at the Bundestag, the German lower house of parliament, in Berlin on Wednesday (AFP photo)
BERLIN — Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Wednesday that his government will seek to make Germany's military "the strongest conventional army in Europe" at a time of rising geopolitical uncertainty.
In his first major parliamentary address since being inaugurated last week, Merz said his government would "provide all financial means necessary" to build up the long-underfunded German military.
His government has already cleared the way for hundreds of billions of euros in extra funding by getting a fiscal plan passed by the last parliament.
"Strengthening the Bundeswehr [armed forces] is our top priority," Merz said. "The German government will provide all the financial resources the Bundeswehr needs to become Europe's strongest conventional army.
"This is appropriate for Europe's most populous and economically powerful country. Our friends and partners also expect this from us. Indeed, they practically demand it," he said.
Related Articles
PARIS — Steel giant ArcelorMittal said on Thursday it recorded its best quarterly performance in a decade as commodity prices have soared du
BERLIN — Germany's next leader, the conservative Friedrich Merz, vowed Wednesday to "move the country forward again" by boosting the economy
BERLIN - Germany's conservative election winner Friedrich Merz faced an uphill struggle to build a coalition government on Monday, a day aft