TFI Global News reports:
In a recent address, Chancellor Merz declared, “I will repeat it today, we will make the Bundeswehr the strongest conventional army in Europe as soon as we can.” This pledge underscores Germany’s ongoing shift toward significantly bolstering its military capabilities amid evolving global security challenges.
Whether The Mekon (Merz) actually used the word 'again' rather than 'as soon as we can' - as Russia's Lavrov recently provocatively claimed - is a little murky.
We all know the last time Germany had the strongest conventional army in Europe and the outcome was not good - both for Germany and the rest of Europe.
Surprisingly the Poles are all for it:
https://notesfrompoland.com/2026/06/17/poland-and-germany-sign-defence-cooperation-agreement/
Poland and Germany sign defence cooperation agreement
Surprising if you've ever seen the pictures of Warsaw after WW2.
But Modern Diplomacy is not convinced all this is being done for the right reasons:
https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2026/02/16/why-is-germany-rearming-again/
Perhaps Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had a point when he remarked last year, “With their current leaders, modern Germany and the rest of Europe are transforming into a Fourth Reich.”