President Donald Trump’s criticism of Germany’s lack of defense spending has prompted the country to increase its military funding. Richard Grenell, former U.S. Ambassador to Germany, noted that German leaders ignored warnings from Trump about Russia using energy as a weapon against them. Trump’s rebuke of Germany’s reliance on Russian gas gained attention at the U.N. General Assembly in 2018, leading to concerns within Germany’s delegation. Subsequently, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 forced Germany to address its dependence on Russian gas. Matthew Kroenig of the Atlantic Council noted that Trump’s tough rhetoric on NATO burden sharing has spurred results that previous administrations failed to achieve.
Following Trump and Grenell’s efforts, Germany met NATO’s goal of spending 2% of GDP on defense in 2024 for the first time since the end of the Cold War in 1991. Despite this, Trump called for Germany to spend 5% on defense due to U.S. contributions to protect the country. Frustrations with European allies were evident in text messages between Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Vice President JD Vance regarding Germany’s lack of support in counteracting Houthi aggression in the Red Sea. The German parliament has relaxed debt restrictions to invest in its military, with future chancellor Friedrich Merz promising significant funding for defense and infrastructure.
Recruitment challenges persist within the German armed forces, with a focus on rebuilding a military structure that had been neglected for decades. Germany aims to invest billions of euros in its defense and infrastructure, with plans to expand its armed forces significantly by 2031. Germany’s history of power politics and emphasis on diplomacy and multilateral institutions following two World Wars have shaped its approach to conflict resolution. The current state of the Bundeswehr, with reports of disarray, unattractiveness to potential recruits, and insufficient resources, is a result of past neglect.
German historian Michael Wolffsohn highlighted the consequences of Western Europe’s defense deficits over the years, stating that they are now facing the repercussions of their negligence. Germany’s reliance on Putin’s gas supply and underinvestment in defense became a topic of scrutiny following Trump’s criticism. Recent efforts by German leaders to increase defense spending and modernize their military structure reflect a shift in policy influenced by external pressures. The so-called “Trump Effect” has had a noticeable impact on Germany’s approach to defense and security issues, compelling the country to address longstanding shortcomings.
