Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius signed an agreement to align the defense procurement systems of both countries, the Department of War announced. The accord aims to expand opportunities for joint development, production, licensed manufacturing, and maintenance of weapons systems.
Germany has increased its defense budget by 25 percent since last year, to approximately $147 billion. Pistorius said the spending increase, military investments in the United States, and Germany's role within NATO demonstrate the nation's commitment to alliance security. Germany is deploying an armored brigade in Lithuania to strengthen NATO's eastern flank and will roll out its first F-35A aircraft this week, according to the defense minister.
The defense industrial agreement aligns the War Department's acquisition transformation strategy with Germany's Procurement Acceleration Act. "The objective is straightforward: Deliver capable systems to American, German and allied forces, at scale and at speed," Hegseth said. Pistorius characterized the accord as establishing "a strong basis for closer armament cooperation between our two nations with one clear aim: increasing our production capacity."