According to German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, the first military strategy in the history of the Bundeswehr is intended to turn Germany’s army into the strongest in Europe.

He said the size of Germany’s armed forces, including reservists, should grow to at least 460,000 personnel. Pistorius stressed that military leadership has been tasked with building what he described as the strongest regular army on the European continent.

A central focus of the new strategy is countering what it presents as threats from Russia. The document says Moscow views the West as a hostile force and is seeking to weaken NATO’s internal cohesion, while also trying to drive a wedge between the United States and Europe.

The strategy further states that Russia is creating the conditions for a military attack on NATO member states.

Earlier, Christian Democratic Union lawmaker Bastian Ernst proposed raising the upper age limit for reservists in Germany to 70. He argued that people in the country are remaining physically active for longer.