Germany rearmament sparks European security concerns

Germany’s rapid military rearmament is reigniting historical anxieties among European neighbors, particularly Poland and France. While the shift responds to the collapse of economic interdependence with Russia following the invasion of Ukraine and growing uncertainty regarding the United States’ commitment to NATO, it has raised concerns about Germany potentially becoming a dominant hegemon in Europe.

Historian Liana Fix, in her book ‘Germany Rearmed: The Return of War and the End of Illusions’, argues that the post-1945 identity of Germany as a ‘civil power’ is ending. Fix suggests that rather than Germany seeking to leave the Western order, the US-led Western order appears to be abandoning Germany. To mitigate fears of hegemony, Fix advocates for anchoring German military power within closer European unification, such as through joint defense bonds.