10 · Major decisions

Decision files, 2023–2026

Ten decisions that shaped the tenure, each set out the same way: what was decided, the context, Pistorius’s role, the criticism and what happened next. Some were taken by the whole government or by the Chancellor; the files say so.

Fig. 1Pistorius at a joint press conference with a European counterpart at the Federal Ministry of Defence.

25 January 2023

Ukraine · Government decision

Leopard 2 tanks for Ukraine

Decision: Germany sends a company of 14 Leopard 2A6 tanks from Bundeswehr stocks and authorises partners to re-export their German-made Leopards, with the aim of equipping two Ukrainian tank battalions.
Context: Months of pressure from Kyiv and allies; Germany had insisted on acting together with the United States, which simultaneously announced Abrams tanks.
His role: The decision was the Chancellor’s, announced six days after Pistorius took office. He carried out the delivery and personally informed Panzerbataillon 203 in Augustdorf.
Criticism: Allies and German critics said the decision came too late; others warned of escalation with Russia.
Afterwards: The first German Leopards reached Ukraine in March 2023. Germany ordered new Leopard 2A8 tanks to replace them.

26 June 2023

NATO · Ministerial initiative

A permanent brigade in Lithuania

Decision: In Vilnius, Pistorius announces that Germany is ready to station a combat brigade of around 4,000–5,000 troops permanently in Lithuania.
Context: Germany had led NATO’s multinational battlegroup in Lithuania since 2017. The Baltic states sought a larger, permanent allied presence after 2022.
His role: Central. He made the announcement and signed the bilateral roadmap with Lithuania on 18 December 2023.
Criticism: Questions over cost, family accommodation and whether enough soldiers would volunteer to move.
Afterwards: Panzerbrigade 45 was formally established on 1 April 2025 and held its stand-up parade in Vilnius on 22 May 2025 with Chancellor Merz. Full operational capability is planned for the end of 2027.

28 September 2023

Air defence · Procurement

Buying Arrow 3 from Israel

Decision: Germany signs a multi-billion-euro contract for the Israeli-US Arrow 3 system to intercept long-range ballistic missiles.
Context: A gap in Germany’s defence against ballistic missiles, and the European Sky Shield Initiative launched by Chancellor Scholz in 2022.
His role: Signed the agreement in Berlin with Israel’s defence ministry and championed the fast timeline.
Criticism: France and others preferred European systems; some experts questioned the priority given to exo-atmospheric interception.
Afterwards: Initial operational capability was declared on 3 December 2025 at Holzdorf, the first Arrow deployment in Europe.

9 November 2023

Doctrine

New Defence Policy Guidelines

Decision: National and alliance defence becomes the organising task of the Bundeswehr; “war-fitness” becomes the yardstick.
Context: Ten days earlier, on 29 October 2023, he had told ZDF that Germany must become kriegstüchtig.
His role: Author and public face of the guidelines.
Criticism: The vocabulary was criticised as militaristic, including by some in the SPD.
Afterwards: The guidelines framed the 2024 restructuring and the personnel targets in the military service law.

30 April 2024

Structure

The Osnabrück Decree

Decision: A new command structure: one Operational Command, and cyber and information space as a fourth branch of service. Principles announced on 4 April; decree effective 1 May 2024.
Context: The previous 2012 structure was built for missions abroad rather than defence of NATO territory.
His role: Signed the decree, which is named after his home city.
Criticism: Some experts called it overdue but limited, as structures alone do not fix procurement or personnel.
Afterwards: The Bundeswehr Operational Command was set up on 1 October 2024.

10 July 2024

Deterrence · Government decision

US long-range missiles in Germany

Decision: A joint US–German announcement at NATO’s Washington summit: episodic deployments of US long-range fires in Germany from 2026.
Context: Russia’s deployment of intermediate-range systems and the end of the INF Treaty in 2019.
His role: Defended the decision publicly as closing a serious gap in deterrence until Europe develops comparable systems of its own.
Criticism: Parts of the SPD, the Left and the BSW warned of a new arms race and criticised the lack of parliamentary debate.
Afterwards: European partners launched work on a European long-range strike capability.

February 2025

Ukraine · Coalition leadership

Co-chairing the Ukraine Defence Contact Group

Decision: From the meeting at NATO headquarters on 12 February 2025, the United Kingdom and Germany chair the “Ramstein” group of around 50 countries, a role previously held by the United States.
Context: The new US administration signalled that Europe should take the lead in supporting Ukraine.
His role: Co-chair with UK Defence Secretary John Healey.
Criticism: Some argued Europe still lacked the production capacity to replace US support.
Afterwards: At the April 2025 meeting, partners pledged a record of around €21 billion in military aid.

24–25 June 2025

NATO · Allied decision

The Hague spending commitment

Decision: Allies commit to 5% of GDP by 2035: 3.5% on core defence and 1.5% on related spending.
Context: Pressure from the US administration and NATO’s new capability targets.
His role: Had cautioned against focusing on percentages rather than capabilities, then backed the outcome and set out a path of about 0.2 percentage points a year.
Criticism: Questions about affordability alongside social spending, and about the definition of “related” spending.
Afterwards: Budgets of €82.7 billion (2026) and a request of €109.7 billion (2027) for the regular defence budget.

13 Nov – 5 Dec 2025

Personnel · Legislation

The new military service

Decision: Voluntary service based on the Swedish model, with mandatory questionnaires and medical screening for men born from 2008, annual growth targets, and a needs-based draft only by decision of the Bundestag.
Context: Conscription had been suspended since 2011. Pistorius presented his model in June 2024; the cabinet adopted the bill on 27 August 2025.
His role: Author of the bill. In October 2025 he opposed a lottery model negotiated by coalition specialists, which caused open conflict with the Union and parts of his own group.
Criticism: The Union wanted more compulsion; youth organisations and the Left objected to compulsory screening; others doubted volunteers would suffice.
Afterwards: Compromise on 13 November 2025; passed by the Bundestag on 5 December 2025; in force from 1 January 2026.

4 October 2026

Capability

The first drone regiment

Decision: The army will set up its first drone regiment from 2027 under the 10th Armoured Division, combining attack and reconnaissance drones, unmanned ground systems, counter-drone and electronic warfare.
Context: Lessons from Ukraine, where drones have transformed the battlefield.
His role: Announced it at the Bergen training area: “The drone regiment will complement our innovation ecosystem.” (translation)
Criticism: Too early to assess; critics of procurement point to the need to buy drones in volume and quickly.
Afterwards: Units from light infantry, reconnaissance and armoured forces begin introducing unmanned systems from the turn of 2026/27.