Germany will continue strengthening its military to ensure NATO’s defense capabilities, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Thursday during his first official visit to the German Navy.
Merz said aboard the Bayern, an anti-submarine frigate off Germany’s northern coast, saying, “We see daily actions by the Russian military testing our readiness and ability to defend ourselves,”
“We will do everything in our power in the coming months and years to protect the freedom, peace, and territorial integrity of alliance territory,” Mertz further added.
Merz stressed that defending Germany and NATO had become increasingly vital since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Earlier, Merz met with Navy Inspector Jan Christian Kaack at naval command in Rostock and visited the new Commander Task Force Baltic headquarters.
Established in 2024, the centre leads NATO-assigned maritime forces and plans operations and exercises in the Baltic region.
