this post was submitted on 14 May 2025
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Merz: Germany Will Build Strongest Conventional Army in Europe (www.newsweek.com)
submitted 3 days ago by Deceptichum@quokk.au to c/world@quokk.au
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The Bundeswehr has around 181,600 active personnel, according to Global Firepower, which compiles military data.

For overall military power, the Global Firepower index ranks Germany third in the European Union (EU) behind Italy in second and France at the top. Within NATO, Germany ranks sixth in the military power index, behind Turkey in fourth, France in third, the U.K. in second, and the U.S. in first place.

The planned increase in German defense spending will please the Trump administration. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. expects NATO allies to build up to spending 5 percent of their GDP on defense, and Washington will also do the same.

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[–] nao@sh.itjust.works 5 points 3 days ago (3 children)

The situation is different this time though: Europe is being threatened from one side and losing support from another. I read this as an attempt to take more responsibility.

[–] NoneOfUrBusiness@fedia.io 7 points 3 days ago

Europe is being threatened from one side and losing support from another.

For now. Remember that fascism is knocking on Germans' doors right as we speak.

[–] FistingEnthusiast@lemmynsfw.com 7 points 3 days ago

Have you seen how the far-right has been growing in Germany?

What happens if they build a bloody great army, then some cunt gets in and decides that they want to use their new toy?

Trump is itching to nuke someone, and don't think that his idiocy couldn't happen elsewhere

[–] GregorGizeh@lemmy.zip 3 points 3 days ago

Pretty sure it's just memes. People mostly know, both inside and outside of Germany, that the EU is a phenomenal instrument of peace and prosperity not only for us germans but also the other members. And that Germany has nothing of value to gain and much to lose by antagonizing or attacking its neighbors and friends again.

Or, a bit more pointedly, we don't need to conquer Europe any more when they are all our economic vassals.