BERLIN 

Chancellor-designate Friedrich Merz on Tuesday declared a “paradigm shift” in Germany’s defense policy, unveiling a massive armament program as “the first major step” toward building a new European defense community.

Speaking in parliament, conservative leader Merz urged lawmakers to support proposed changes to Germany’s basic law, enabling the government to borrow funds for significant defense procurements amid changes in US foreign policy and escalating threats from Russia.

“Russian President Vladimir Putin is waging a war not only against Ukraine’s territorial integrity. This is a war against Europe. It is also a war against our country, which is taking place daily,” Merz said, accusing Moscow of engaging in hybrid warfare against Germany.

He alleged that Russia was responsible for widespread cyberattacks targeting German institutions, sabotage of critical supply lines, arson attacks, drone incursions over military bases, and coordinated disinformation campaigns on social media aimed at destabilizing the country.

“Now we must rebuild our defense capabilities, partly from scratch, with a technology-driven defense and procurement strategy, with automated systems, with independent European satellite surveillance, with armed drones, and with numerous modern defense systems,” Merz said, adding that from now on defense contracts should prioritize European manufacturers whenever possible.

The conservative leader stated that Germany’s extensive military spending plan under the incoming conservative-left coalition government would not only bolster the nation’s defense capabilities but also advance Europe’s efforts to assume primary responsibility for its own defense.

“We cannot handle this alone, today we can only do it together with the Americans in NATO. But we aim to do it better ourselves, step by step, through a European defense,” Merz said.

“The decision we are making today can also be seen as the first major step towards a new European defense community. A defense community that includes not only EU member states but also other countries eager to build this together with us,” he added.

Merz’s Christian Democrats and their prospective coalition partner, the Social Democrats, have proposed changes to the country’s constitutional “debt brake” rule. These changes would enable the incoming government to borrow hundreds of billions of euros for acquiring new weapons and enhancing infrastructure. Currently, Germany adheres to strict fiscal rules – its constitutionally mandated “debt brake” limits government borrowing to 0.35% of GDP under normal economic conditions.

Germany's lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, was set to vote on the proposal later on Tuesday. If it wins a two-thirds majority, the legislation would then require approval from the Bundesrat, Germany's upper house of parliament, on Friday. In addition to the center-right Christian Democrats and center-left Social Democrats, the Greens have also expressed support for the proposed changes.