NATO to ask Berlin for additional 40,000 troops in new militarism: Report
NATO intends to ask Germany for an additional seven brigades—approximately 40,000 troops—to bolster the alliance's military readiness, according to sources.
This comes as member states' defense ministers prepare to approve new military readiness targets for troops and equipment at next week's meeting, Reuters reported, citing anonymous sources.
NATO is significantly boosting its military readiness goals in response to what it alleges to be heightened concerns regarding Russia, particularly following the war in Ukraine.
A high-ranking military official revealed that NATO plans to increase its total brigade requirement for member states to 120-130 in the coming years.
The increase would represent roughly a 50% jump from NATO's current benchmark of approximately 80 brigades, according to the source. A separate government official specified the alliance-wide goal would reach 130 brigades.
NATO characterized the new targets as "ambitious" without providing specific figures.
"They are based on the forces and resources we need for deterrence and defense, based on our new defense plans," a NATO official stated when asked for comment.
Germany previously committed in 2021 to supplying 10 brigades—typically 5,000-strong units—to NATO by 2030. Currently fielding eight brigades, it is establishing a ninth in Lithuania slated for operational readiness by 2027.
Germany recently made a landmark decision to relax its constitutional restrictions on borrowing, enabling increased military expenditures, while endorsing outgoing NATO chief Mark Rutte's proposal for allies to allocate 5% of GDP to defense.
Since Russia's special military operation in Ukraine, NATO allies have significantly boosted their military budgets, and have been urged to go further by US President Donald Trump, who has threatened not to defend countries lagging behind on defense spending.
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