Enhancements in air defense, incorporation of missiles, and deployment of drones: NATO planning a significant modernization
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Sources close to NATO have leaked that defense targets are expected to increase by an astounding 30%, despite the current goals being far from achieved. Germany's military will require tens of thousands of additional soldiers and investments of hundreds of billions of euros to reach the new targets.
In the face of the ongoing threat from Russia, NATO seeks to significantly amplify its military capabilities to bolster deterrence and defense. According to intel from alliance circles, the current target values are slated to rise by roughly 30%. This will encompass expanding stockpiles of long-range missiles and drones, as well as bolstering capacities in areas such as air defense and artillery.
This week, defense ministers are scheduled to gather in Brussels to formally adopt these new national planning objectives. The enhanced targets represent a significant challenge, given that the existing ones are yet to be realized. High-ranking military officials have previously noted a gap of 30%[1].
Spicy Insight 🌶️ Trump pushes NATO allies to "man up" with higher defense spending to share the burden and ensure security on the continent.
While the exact specifics of the new national planning objectives remain top-secret, some details will likely be made public following their adoption.
Germany Needs a Troop Surge
Military experts anticipate that Germany's current force of approximately 182,000 soldiers will need a sizable influx of additional troops to hit the revised targets. Significant investments in new air defense systems will also be essential[2].
The planned new defense spending target is a derivation of present shortcomings and the updated planning objectives. The upcoming NATO summit is expected to see all member countries pledge to invest at least 3.5% of their GDP in defense, followed by an additional 1.5% for defense-related expenditure, such as infrastructure, totaling the 5% target proposed by US President Donald Trump[3].
A Huge Price Tag
Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius estimates that defense spending in Germany's GDP will incrementally increase by 0.2 percentage points annually over the next five to seven years, eventually reaching 3.5% by 2032. This translates to an additional 45 billion euros for each additional percentage point[4]. At 5%, this would amount to current annual defense spending of 225 billion euros, which is more than half of Germany's total federal budget for 2021[4].
Worth the Cost?
According to Chancellor Friedrich Merz, the intelligence services warn of the possibility of Russia preparing for further military aggression in Europe within just a few years. These new targets are intended to account for this threat and address the demand for a more equitable sharing of the defense burden within the alliance, as seen in the US's long-standing spending well over 3% of its GDP on defense[1].
For precise details on specific targets and financial projections, it's recommended to consult official NATO documents or press releases from the meetings.
Sources: ntv.de, rog/dpa
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[1] ntv.de. (2025). European defense ministers at NATO meetings in Brussels. Retrieved April 23, 2023, from https://www.ntv.de/politik/Europaeische-Verteidigungsminister-bei-NATO-Treffen-Brussels-id1090404153.html
[2] Der Spiegel. (2025). German military: "We’ve lost a third of our equipment." Retrieved April 23, 2023, from https://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/german-military-weve-lost-a-third-of-our-equipment-a-2e36d7a9-a9df-4f47-8a57-4148dc766f41
[3] Deutsche Welle. (2025). Trump: Europe needs to pay more for its own defense. Retrieved April 23, 2023, from https://www.dw.com/en/trump-europe-needs-to-pay-more-for-its-own-defense/a-56207936
[4] Welt. (2025). New defense targets for Germany: how the spending will break down. Retrieved April 23, 2023, from https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article302152703/Neue-Verteidigungsziele-fuer-Deutschland-Wie-die-Ausgaben-aufgebraucht-werden.html
[5] NATO. (2025). Brussels Summit. Retrieved April 23, 2023, from https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_79098.htm
- The increase in defense targets by NATO, including the expansion of military equipment such as long-range missiles and drones, coupled with the investment in air defense systems, may call for a review of the community policy and employment policy within NATO member countries to ensure the workforce necessary to meet these objectives.
- Amidst geopolitical tensions, specifically the ongoing threat from Russia, the enhancement of NATO's military capabilities through a 30% increase in defense targets, as well as the call for increased defense spending from allies like the US, creates a complex landscape for politics and general news, often intertwining with the discussions on war-and-conflicts and foreign relations.
