Germany to Unveil New Defense Industry Strategy by Year-End

Germany's Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stated that the new defense industry strategy will be published by the end of the year. Despite the coalition's collapse, the German government plans to unveil a new defense industry strategy aimed at reducing bureaucracy and accelerating weapon production by the year's end. As Europe's largest supporter of Ukraine, Germany has committed to renewing the depleted Bundeswehr army and strengthening defense as part of the "Zeitenwende" – or "turning point" – policy shift announced shortly after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony for a new missile production facility for MBDA in Schrobenhausen, Pistorius remarked, "For too long, the state has seen itself more as a regulator than a partner in the defense industry. The task is to further strengthen our country's defense industrial base during these times. It’s not just about protection, but also about empowerment." He added, "Therefore, we want to specifically improve the framework conditions for an efficient security and defense industry."