The German Ministry of Defence internally warns that a rapid reduction in Germany's dependence on American weaponry could strain relations with Washington. The documents, prepared ahead of a meeting of the Bundestag's Defence Committee and consulted by POLITICO, show that Berlin is trying to maintain a delicate balance between its ambitions for strategic autonomy and its dependence on the transatlantic partner.
According to SIPRI data cited in the documents, the United States accounted for 37% of Germany's major arms imports in the 2021-2025 period. Among the major acquisitions are F-35 aircraft, CH-47 Chinook helicopters and Patriot air defence systems. The documents note that confidence in Washington's commitments is declining in some circles within German defence. The ministry, however, calls for caution, as abrupt changes would endanger the partnership and could lead to the exclusion of German industry from American arms production projects.
The autonomy that Berlin publicly seeks in the field of armament is viewed with reluctance in Washington, according to internal notes. Discussions in the Bundestag's Defence Committee focused precisely on how Germany can continue cooperating with the United States while building its own capabilities. For Berlin, the challenge is not to turn its desire for independence into a rupture with an ally on which its industry still largely depends.
The issue also has a Ukrainian dimension. The shortage of Patriot missiles has complicated military support for Kyiv. In October, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused the Pentagon of delaying the delivery of missiles that had already been paid for. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio rejected the accusations and denied that Washington was blocking military aid. The episode shows how closely, in practice, arms deliveries and support for Ukraine are tied to decisions taken in Washington.
At the European level, the European Commission has set a target for at least half of defence procurement to be made on European equipment by 2030. Currently, the share stands at around 15%. American manufacturers, however, supplied 58% of the imports of European NATO states in the 2021-2025 period. The Trump administration has threatened measures if the European Union restricts access of American companies to the defence market. Washington calls on Europe to take more responsibility for its own security but, at the same time, seeks to protect American economic interests.
The documents show that alternatives, such as new partnerships with Canada or other states, can be developed only in parallel with cooperation with the United States, not in place of it. For Berlin, the problem remains finding an intermediate path between dependence on American weaponry and the ambition of a more independent defence industry, without losing access to the technology and production of its transatlantic ally.