Germany Wants Europe’s Strongest Army

Germany’s new chancellor, Friedrich Merz, is wasting no time advancing Germany. Recently, U.S. President Donald Trump demanded that European nations increase their defense spending to 5 percent of their GDP (Deutsche Welle, May 18, 2025). Germany’s new foreign minister accepted the challenge on behalf of his nation, meaning that Germany will increase defense spending from about €90 billion to more than €160 billion. Exactly where this money will come from is yet to be determined. However, with Russia undeterred in its war in Ukraine, Germany and other European nations are concerned and motivated. A defense budget of that size would represent a major shift in the nation’s defense policy, which has relied heavily on external support since World War II. Against this backdrop, the incoming German chancellor recently observed that he plans to make the German Bundeswehr “the strongest conventional army in Europe.”

While Chancellor Merz’s comments make military and political sense in the current environment, history documents all too well that Germany has wielded the strongest army in Europe twice before—which did not turn out well. Will this time be different? Bible prophecy foretells the emergence of a major military power in Europe at the end of the age. It will again be led by Germany, and it will dominate many nations—especially Israelite-descended ones. God will use Germany, referred to in the Bible by the ancient name “Assyria,” as the “rod” of His anger, punishing those who have rejected Him (Isaiah 10:5). The rise of a militarily powerful Germany is a key to fulfilling Bible prophecy. To learn more, you can read or listen to Germany in Prophecy.