How ready are Germans to defend Europe? | Berlin Briefing Podcast

Half of Germans back Chancellor Merz’s pledge to spend 5% of GDP on defense. But what about the other half? And how comfortable are Germany’s European partners with the new German leadership style, which includes sweeping commitments to arm up? DW’s top correspondents Michaela Küfner and Nina Haase in Berlin, along with Alexandra von Nahmen at NATO HQ in Brussels, analyze what Merz’s pledges will mean in real terms. How are Germans reacting to the hit on their finances and their self-image? And there’s another fundamental question — how on earth can Germany’s under-resourced military get the man- and woman-power it needs? This episode takes a close look under the hood of Germany’s defense capability.

00:00 Intro
01:19 Big defense spender!
5:50 NATO take on Merz
09:50 Manpower, anyone?
13:02 Reintroducing conscription
15:43 It's the Spirit
20:06 Germany leads – or not?!
22:39 Trump and NATO
26:08 German opinion polls
32:20 That "manifesto"
38:17 Far left and far right
41:00 Ready? Or not?!
41:45 Seeya next week!

Why Germans are relieved after Merz’s Oval Office debut
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiKJduwA3Qs

Germany fast-tracks its military buildup
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nup1ABYb1Mw

Berlin Briefing on socialist Left Party
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5F0bDhGO38

Berlin Briefing on far-left BSW
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3AFjKERtZ4

Berlin Briefing on far-right AfD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Evh-fCA8Tv4

Inside the far-right blueprint for Germany’s Eurasian future
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFmpxuNxycM

SPD-Manifest "Friedenssicherung in Europa durch Verteidigungsfähigkeit, Rüstungskontrolle und Verständigung"
https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/innenpolitik/spd-manifest-frieden-100.pdf

DW Berlin Briefing newsletter
https://www.dw.com/en/berlinbriefing/a-56770271

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Post from DW News on June 12, 2025

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