Politico: Broad additional powers for the German army commander following structural changes to the Ministry of Defense
Politico magazine revealed a new organizational chart for the German Ministry of Defense, concentrating unprecedented powers in the hands of General Carsten Breuer, the Inspector General of the German Armed Forces.
According to the European edition of the magazine, for years, military planning, force readiness, and operations were divided among three competing departments within the Defense Ministry in Berlin.
As of October 1, these were merged into a single armed forces directorate under Breuer’s leadership.
This reshuffle, overseen by Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, places Breuer in the undisputed operational leadership position within the German Ministry of Defense.
For the German military, which has long faced criticism for procurement delays and overlapping decision-making circles, this reform is expected to enhance the agility of the German military.
This move comes as part of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s pledge to build the strongest conventional army in Europe capable of waging war, especially in light of the ongoing violations of NATO airspace by unidentified drones.
Meanwhile, the United States, under Donald Trump, has made clear that its support is not guaranteed or absolute.
Given this situation, granting Breuer broader powers would ensure Germany’s ability to deter and fight when necessary, while reducing its dependence on Washington.
Politico said that the changes to Brewer’s powers are just part of a broader reorganization.
The German Ministry of Defense has launched a new department for innovation and cyberspace, bringing together projects such as the next generation of French-German-Spanish fighter jets, space defense, artificial intelligence, as well as cybersecurity and IT infrastructure.
As part of this plan, the Ministry of Defense has launched a so-called Growth Directorate, which will be tasked with addressing Berlin’s most pressing problems: personnel.
Germany is seeking to recruit tens of thousands of soldiers, relying on voluntary national service to bolster its declining troop numbers.
This directorate will oversee all matters related to recruitment, training, housing, and even the construction of new barracks.
