Germany will continue to strengthen its army to ensure NATO's ability to defend itself, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said today, quoted by DPA, during his first visit to the country's navy, BTA reported.
"We see the daily actions of the Russian army. They test our readiness and our ability to defend ourselves," the chancellor said from aboard the anti-submarine frigate "Bayern" ("Bavaria") off the country's northern coast. "That is why I want to say that we will do everything in our power in the coming months and years to preserve freedom, peace and territorial integrity on the territory of the alliance," he added.
The defense of Germany and NATO has become more necessary since the start of Russia's war against Ukraine in February 2022, the German chancellor stressed.
Earlier, Merz spoke with Navy Inspector Jan Christian Kack at the Navy headquarters in the northern port of Rostock and visited the new tactical naval command, known as "Operation Group Command Baltic".
Established in 2024, the headquarters is tasked with planning naval operations and exercises, as well as leading naval forces sent by NATO.
The German Navy has around 15,300 soldiers. This is the smallest sector of the German Bundeswehr, after the air force and the army, DPA notes.
Merz returned to the coast by helicopter and flew to France, where he will have dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron in Toulon.