Germany plans to build Europe's largest army

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced plans to build the largest army in Europe, surpassing Britain's military strength, in his first major speech. Merz committed to allocating 5% of Germany's GDP to defense, aiming to make the Bundeswehr the strongest conventional army on the continent. This move follows decades of reluctance to rearm, spurred by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and pressure from the US. This initiative includes potentially reinstating conscription and increasing production of military equipment. Germany's military spending already surpassed the UK's in 2024, though the UK maintains advantages in combat experience and nuclear capabilities.