Well equipped for the Zeitenwende?

The project assesses the arguments put forward by both proponents and critics of the large-scale rearmament of the German armed forces in response to the Zeitenwende and the historical geopolitical shift it represents. It develops policy recommendations that combine the strengths of both positions while addressing their respective shortcomings.

The project examines the armament of the German armed forces in the context of the Zeitenwende. Is this large-scale military build-up strategically sound from a national security policy perspective? What are its weaknesses and blind spots? Which alternatives and complementary measures should be considered? To answer these questions, the project analyses the arguments advanced by both supporters and critics of rearmament, weighs them against one another and critically scrutinises the assumptions underlying each position. In doing so, it highlights uncertainties and ambiguities and opens up new avenues for strategic thinking and policy recommendations that combine the strengths of both approaches while mitigating their respective weaknesses.

The project resulted in a study published in March 2026.