April 25, 2025
Germany's New Defense Agenda
On April 9th, Friedrich Merz, the leader of Germany’s center-right Christian Democratic Union, secured a coalition agreement with the Social Democrats following his party’s victory in the federal elections. In early May, the Bundestag is expected to convene and elect him as the next Chancellor. One of the most significant initiatives of this new government is likely to be a historic overhaul of Germany’s defense posture.
To discuss this and more, we’re pleased to welcome Claudia Major and Christian Mölling to discuss Germany's new government and defense strategy.
Claudia Major is the Senior Vice President of Transatlantic Security at the German Marshall Fund
Christian Mölling is a Senior Advisor at the European Policy Centre
More from CNAS
-
Europe Stepping Up and the United States Stepping Back
This week, the Allies met for the NATO summit in Ankara, Türkiye, in what was billed as a summit of low expectations. President Donald Trump once again created headlines with ...
By Andrea Kendall-Taylor & Jim Townsend
-
Would the U.S. Protect NATO Allies If They Were Attacked?
Former US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for NATO and adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security Jim Townsend says he is unsure whether the US woul...
By Jim Townsend
-
Trump Won’t Humiliate Starmer At Nato Summit Over Defence Spending
“He might even say something kind!” President Trump is unlikely to attack the UK or Keir Starmer over defence spending, says former Pentagon official and adjunct senior fellow...
By Jim Townsend
-
Prospects for Ukraine and a Look Ahead to Ankara
The past month has featured a series of major transatlantic gatherings that together tell an important story about where the alliance is headed. At the NATO Foreign Ministers ...
By Andrea Kendall-Taylor & Jim Townsend