Germany will lift its partial weapons export embargo on Israel on November 24, citing a stabilising ceasefire in Gaza and and renewed diplomatic efforts to increase humanitarian aid. Berlin will return to case-by-case reviews of export requests, a move welcomed by Israel but debated within Germany.
Germany will contribute at least €150 million toward the purchase of US-made military equipment for Ukraine, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said during a meeting of the “Group of Five” European defence ministers in Berlin under NATO’s PURL scheme.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has pressed Ukraine to pursue anti-corruption reforms after President Volodymyr Zelensky briefed him on a widening corruption scandal that has led to two ministerial resignations and sanctions against key business figures.
Germany’s coalition government has agreed on a new military service model that begins as a voluntary programme but allows parliament to introduce conscription if recruitment falls short.
German defence company Rheinmetall and Finnish satellite maker ICEYE have established a joint venture to manufacture synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites, Rheinmetall said on Friday. Rheinmetall holds a 60 percent stake in the project, while ICEYE holds 40 percent of shares.
The German military’s inspector general, Carsten Breuer, has called for assessing all young men for potential service to ensure readiness in a defence emergency. Supported by Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, the plan aligns with a new military service law taking effect on January 01, 2026.
Rheinmetall has signed a €1 billion deal with Bulgaria to establish a joint gunpowder and ammunition factory near Sopot, aiming to produce 100,000 NATO-standard artillery shells annually. The German company holds 51% of the shares in the new project.
Germany will deploy Eurofighter jets to Poland’s Malbork Air Base as part of NATO’s new Eastern Sentry mission to strengthen air patrols along the alliance’s eastern flank. Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said the deployment will enhance NATO’s visibility and readiness amid repeated Russian airspace and drone incursions affecting Poland, Estonia, Denmark, and Romania.
Israel has urged Germany to lift its partial arms export halt and travel warning following the Gaza ceasefire. Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel said the restrictions should end and backed German participation in the Gaza peace process, while Chancellor Friedrich Merz signalled the export freeze may be reviewed.
Germany’s Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt warned of legal challenges to a bill expanding the Bundeswehr’s role in domestic drone defence after a surge in suspected Russian drone sightings. The plan would strengthen police capabilities and create a joint defence centre, but faces constitutional concerns over military involvement in internal security.
Germany’s intelligence chief Martin Jäger warned that the country is already “under fire” from Russia and must prepare for further escalation. Speaking to lawmakers, he said Moscow seeks to destabilize NATO and intimidate Europe amid rising tensions, airspace violations, and drone incidents over German infrastructure.
Germany plans to order over 600 Skyranger air defence systems from Rheinmetall in a deal worth more than €9 billion to strengthen its drone defence. The mobile system, now in testing, can be mounted on Boxer and Leopard 1 vehicles and is designed to counter modern aerial threats, including drone swarms.
The German cabinet approved a bill for setting up a National Security Council and introducing voluntary military service, which could turn into conscription in the absence of sufficient volunteers, of which an initial 15,000 are required with a target of 80,000, whom the government plans to entice with high salaries.
The suspension of military exports to Israel represents a major step for Berlin, which has been one of its strongest supporters since the October 7, 2023 attacks and has repeatedly blocked EU initiatives to issue sanctions over the desperate humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Thyssenkrupp is to retain a majority stake of 51% in TKMS through a new holding company. The remaining 49% of TKMS shares are to be transferred to Thyssenkrupp shareholders in proportion to their shareholdings, making them direct shareholders of TKMS.
