Experts call for rapid European rearmament on 35th anniversary of German unification

Germany and its allies must act together quickly to bolster Europe's military capabilities in the face of the threat posed by Russia, security experts have said as European leaders marked the 35th anniversary of German reunification.

The warning follows US President Donald Trump's clear stance that his country will play a less direct role in Europe.

"We are under enormous pressure," said Dr Patrick Keller, head of the Security and Defence Centre at the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP).

"Relying on America no longer works as it once did", he told Euronews, adding that Europe must take responsibility for its own security and unity.

His words came as European leaders travelled to Saarbrücken in the German state of Saarland for an event on Friday marking the end of the division of Germany.

From the late 1940s until 1990, the country was officially divided into the Soviet-occupied communist German Democratic Republic (GDR) and the democratic Federal Republic of Germany (FRG).

At the anniversary event on Friday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier were joined by guests including French President Emmanuel Macron and Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska, Marshal of the Polish Senate.

Experts emphasised how important the alliance between France, Germany and Poland is for Europe's collective security.

However, they also noted that national ambitions would have to put aside, citing a recent industry dispute over a billion-euro German-French fighter jet project.

Can Germany secure European unity with France and Poland?

Founded in 1991 by the foreign ministers of Germany, France and Poland, the "Weimar Triangle" is considered a "motor" of Europe.

Gunther Krichbaum, Germany's State Minister for Europe, told Euronews that the alliance was critical for ensuring European unity.

"The oft-cited German-French engine is more important than ever because the challenges have never been greater," said Krichbaum. "But naturally, we need Poland as a Central European partner and ally."

"Nothing will move forward in Europe if Germany and France don’t pull together. Together with Poland, we are now setting decisive impulses for the EU," Krichbaum added.

Keller, the security expert at the DGAP, said that Germany has "a very special significance" because it is strategically located, and has the largest population and is the wealthiest country in Europe.

Nevertheless, Germany must, like other European nations, "rapidly acquire more military capabilities", Keller told Euronews.

Although a large-scale invasion is not the likeliest scenario for Germany and Central Europe, the expert warned of "pinpricks that become increasingly toxic and severe", referring to the potential sabotage of energy supplies as well as damage caused by Russian drones.

"We need to prepare for these now," he said, arguing that Germany should improve its ability to detect drones and develop capabilities to intercept and neutralise them.

"The equipment of the Bundeswehr [the German army] and police is not yet where it should be," he said. "Much remains to be done."

Keller also stressed that German ammunition reserves were depleted and needed to be built up again.

"We thought we were in a time of eternal peace in a united, liberated Europe surrounded by friends — a historically unprecedented, almost paradisiacal situation for Germany," Keller explained. "We did not see how this had not taken hold elsewhere in the world."

"We were under American protection and felt comfortable. Instead, we invested in education and our welfare state. But those times are over," Keller said. "We must now catch up on what we refused to consider possible for 25 years."

The challenge of joint European projects

State Minister Krichbaum spoke of the need for Europe to expand its sovereignty through "joint projects".

He mentioned several that are currently underway, including the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), which is focused on developing a new fighter jet, and the Main Ground Combat System (MGCS), which aims to replace the Leopard 2 tank.

"Ideally, we want to solve these projects together," Krichbaum told Euronews.

"We must move beyond the fragmentation of numerous European weapons systems and coordinate much better," he said.

The experts said the challenge was in prioritising European cooperation over national ambitions.

This discrepancy is evident in FCAS, the billion-euro German-French fighter jet project, according to Krichbaum.

"Recently, the French industry demanded about 80% of the project share, which was originally discussed differently. We must now see how to move forward," he said.

Keller also discussed the issue. "Especially Dassault, the French company, believes it can build the future fighter jet alone and does not need German involvement. This attitude is growing stronger in France," he said.

Cooperation seems better in other projects like MGCS, the "tank of the future", Keller added.

Both Keller and Krichbaum reiterated the strong need for unity.

"It is essential to think about security and defence policy together in Europe, always within NATO. Only then can we preserve our deterrence capability," Krichbaum said.