A report by the German Ministry of Economy released on December 29 showed that the country has sharply cut arms exports to Ukraine in 2025.
According to documents cited by MP Ulrich Thoden, from January 1 to December 8, 2025, Germany approved the export of weapons and military equipment to Ukraine with a total value of 1.14 billion euros (1.34 billion USD), nearly 8 times lower than the 8.15 billion euros of 2024.
Meanwhile, the total value of German arms exports in 2025 reached 8.4 billion euros, a significant decrease compared to 2023 and 2024, when these figures were 12.15 billion euros and 13.33 billion euros respectively.
Observers believe that the decrease in arms exports is not necessarily a worrying sign, in the context that Germany seems to be adjusting its priorities to realize the ambition to build the "strongest military force in Europe" that Chancellor Friedrich Merz has set since taking office in May.
Not stopping at the statement, Chancellor Merz also expressed strong commitment to this plan, and set a target for 2029 for the German Federal Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) to reach a state of "combat readiness", in the face of potential threats from outside, especially Russia.
According to 39-equipment defense plan documents leaked in October, Germany is expected to spend 377 billion euros (440 billion USD) on more than 320 projects to purchase weapons and military equipment in the fields of the army, air force, navy, space and cyberspace.
Of which, about 14 billion euros are allocated to space projects, including the construction of a low-orbit satellite network serving military communication, along with new reconnaissance and patrol systems.
The plan also includes the purchase of US-made weapons, such as F-35 fighter jets and Tomahawk cruise missiles.
By November, Germany had passed a new draft law on obligations, which offers more incentives for enlisters, including a starting monthly salary of 2,600 euros, an increase of 450 euros compared to the current level.
This move is expected to increase the German army from about 180,000 currently to 260,000 regular soldiers and 200,000 reserve troops by 2035. If new targets are not achieved, the German government will consider the option of re-applying compulsory military service when necessary.
