# Germany
Latest news and articles about Germany
Total: 11 articles found
Europe’s Winter Drills Expose the Limits of a ‘De‑Americanized’ NATO
Two recent NATO exercises — Arctic Endurance‑2026 and Steadfast Dart‑2026 — were presented as Europe‑led tests of collective defence, but rushed planning, thin participation and serious logistical frictions exposed enduring capability gaps. The drills signal a political push for European strategic autonomy, yet they also underline how far Europe must go before it can credibly substitute for US military power.
Germany Eyes a ‘Military Starlink’: Rheinmetall and OHB Move to Capture €35bn Defence‑Space Jackpot
Rheinmetall and OHB are negotiating to bid for a German military LEO satellite communications programme that could tap into roughly €35 billion of planned defence‑space spending. The project aims to create a domestically built, Starlink‑style network to improve resilience and reduce reliance on foreign commercial providers, but it faces strong competition and significant technical and industrial challenges.
Germany Says Active Force at 12-Year High as Arctic Pullback Exposes Gaps
Germany says its active military has grown to about 184,200 troops, the largest figure in 12 years, supported by rising defence budgets and a legal shift allowing extra borrowing for defence. Yet a swift withdrawal of a small Greenland deployment underscores that manpower and money still need to be translated into reliable, deployable capability.
Germany’s Armed Forces Reach 12-Year High as Recruitment Surges
Germany’s Bundeswehr has grown to 184,200 active-duty personnel, the highest in 12 years, marking the largest intake since the suspension of conscription. The increase reflects post‑2022 defence policy shifts but leaves open questions about training, equipment and long-term sustainability.
UNDP to Shift Nearly 400 New York Posts to Europe, Cementing Bonn as a Development Hub
UNDP will transfer nearly 400 posts from its New York headquarters to Europe—mostly to Bonn, with the remainder to Madrid—as part of a reform to adapt to fiscal pressures and strengthen ties with hosts and partners. The agency says the move complements earlier decentralisation to regional offices and aims to boost support for vulnerable populations while retaining New York as its global HQ.
Germany Relaunches EV Purchase Subsidy — Up to €6,000 to Reboot Electric Car Sales and Shield Auto Industry
Germany has reintroduced a tiered EV purchase subsidy offering €1,500–€6,000 per private buyer for new registrations from 1 January 2026, backed by €3 billion over three years and intended to support up to 800,000 vehicles. The measure aims to revive household demand, protect domestic automakers amid international competition, and accelerate the country’s shift to electric mobility, though it poses fiscal, regulatory and infrastructure challenges.
Germany Revives EV Purchase Grants — Up to €6,000 to Reignite Demand and Protect the Auto Industry
Germany has reinstated purchase subsidies for electric cars, offering between €1,500 and €6,000 to private buyers of new battery electrics and certain hybrids registering from 1 January 2026. The policy aims to boost demand, protect domestic industry and accelerate decarbonisation, but its effectiveness will depend on targeting, uptake and complementary investments in infrastructure.
Germany’s Quiet Pullback from Greenland Raises Questions About European Arctic Strategy
Germany abruptly withdrew military personnel from Greenland after a brief presence in Nuuk, a move confirmed by the German Defence Ministry that followed cancelled flights and inconsistent reporting about troop numbers. The withdrawal highlights diplomatic sensitivities in the Arctic, where Danish sovereignty, U.S. bases, and rising great-power competition complicate European security initiatives.
Stalled $8bn Submarine Deal Exposes Limits of India’s Push for Local-Built AIP Fleet
Negotiations for a roughly $8 billion deal to build six German Type 214 submarines in India, including full technology transfer, stalled during a recent German chancellor’s visit. The impasse underscores the technical, legal and political difficulties of deep defence co‑operation and leaves India’s ageing submarine fleet vulnerable to capability gaps and regional competitors who can procure faster or cheaper alternatives.
Europe Deploys Forces to Greenland as Transatlantic Fault Lines Deepen
Several European countries have deployed personnel to Greenland as part of a Danish‑led reconnaissance mission, deepening disagreement with the United States and highlighting growing strains in transatlantic relations. While military movements are limited and largely symbolic, the episode raises substantive questions about NATO–EU coordination, European strategic autonomy and the future security order in the Arctic.
Germany Buys MQ‑9B Maritime Drones to Harden Baltic and North Atlantic Anti‑Submarine Watch
Germany has contracted to buy eight MQ‑9B maritime drones from General Atomics for about €1.52 billion, to strengthen surveillance and anti‑submarine patrols in the Baltic and North Atlantic. The drones, complementing Germany’s P‑8A Poseidons, offer long endurance and advanced avionics but will require significant integration, basing and political choices before they deliver full operational effect.