On Thursday, Germany announced plans to strengthen its defenses, from countering drone incursions to securing outer space, amid escalating tensions between NATO and Russia as the Ukraine conflict persists.
Recent Russian fighter jets and drones have violated NATO airspace over Poland and Romania, with suspicious drone activities also reported near airports in Denmark and Norway. In Germany, Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who has accused Moscow of orchestrating drone sightings over military and industrial sites, pledged “all necessary measures” to deter Russian airspace violations and other military provocations.
As Europe’s largest economy and a staunch supporter of Ukraine, Germany has committed to significantly increasing military spending since Merz assumed leadership in May, aiming to enhance NATO’s European capabilities.
Defence Minister Boris Pistorius revealed a €35 billion ($41 billion) investment in space defense by 2030, citing threats from Russia and China, who have rapidly advanced their space warfare capabilities. These include the ability to disrupt, jam, manipulate, or destroy satellites. Germany’s space security strategy will feature resilient satellite constellations, ground stations, secure launch systems, cybersecurity, and enhanced orbital surveillance through radar, telescopes, and future space surveillance satellites.
Pistorius emphasized the vulnerability of satellite networks, warning that attacks on them could “cripple entire nations,” given their critical role in modern society.
