German rearmament – three potential scenarios
The Puma IFV, currently being procured by Germany to replace its older Marder vehicles. (Photo: Rheinmetall)
With the possibility of a massive increase in German defence spending on the horizon, Shephard analyses what such a boost could mean for the Bundeswehr’s procurement of new armoured vehicles.
The government of Olaf Scholz made a great deal out of its Zeitenwende – or “turning point” – policy of rearming the German armed forces after years of chronic underfunding. However, despite promising a €100 billion (US$110.5 billion) fund, tangible change failed to materialise, embodied by the fact that German defence spending had still not reached 2% of GDP when Scholz left office in May 2025.
The election of Friedrich Merz as Chancellor in May 2025 appeared to herald a new direction in German defence. On 22 May, Merz inaugurated a new German mechanised brigade, the 45th Panzer Brigade, which will be permanently stationed
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