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Europe continues to increase its military spending:
Under US pressure, European military spending soars 14%
28 April 2026
Global military expenditure reached $2.89 trillion in 2025, up 2.9% from 2024, according to a new report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) released on Monday.
Notably, Europe’s defense spending rose sharply, surging 14% to $864 billion. …
Among European NATO members, 29 countries reported a combined military budget of $559 billion in 2025, with 22 of them allocating at least 2% of their GDP to defense. https://news.cgtn.com/news/2026-04-28/Under-US-pressure-European-military-spending-soars-14–1MHRSQ0qIeY/p.html
German efforts drive European defense spending to level not seen in decades, report says
April 27. 2026
STUTTGART, Germany — Military spending in Europe last year increased at its fastest pace in nearly three-quarters of a century, according to a new analysis that also showed American expenditures declining in 2025. …
“In 2025 military spending by European NATO members rose faster than at any time since 1953, reflecting the ongoing pursuit of European self-reliance alongside increasing pressure from the United States to strengthen burden sharing within the alliance,” researcher Jade Guiberteau Ricard said. …
NATO’s European members spent a combined $559 billion in 2025. Germany led the way with a 24% year-on-year increase to $114 billion. It also spent more than 2% of GDP on defense for the first time since 1990. The rise of Germany as a military power is a marked turnaround from just a few years ago when the country was widely regarded as a defense spending laggard and security free rider by its critics. President Donald Trump, particularly during his first term, frequently singled Germany out for criticism over the issue. …
As spending has ramped up, so has Germany’s defense industrial base, with manufacturers opening new factories and converting old ones to churn out ammunition. Armin Papperger, CEO of German weapons producer Rheinmetall, said last week that the company has increased its production capacity for military trucks from 600 to 4,500 per year, for medium-caliber ammunition from 800,000 to more than 4 million rounds and for artillery from 70,000 to 1.1 million rounds. Germany now has more production capacity for conventional ammunition than the United States, Papperger told the crowd at an event in Hamburg, as quoted by the German Press Agency. https://www.stripes.com/theaters/europe/2026-04-27/sipri-defense-spending-report-21499277.html
Deutsche Welle, a German news source, posted the following:
Germany unveils first-ever military strategy for Bundeswehr
April 23, 2026The German Bundeswehr has for the first time officially adopted a military strategy, citing an increasingly dangerous international situation. The strategy defines the future focus of the German armed forces and analyzes how the Bundeswehr can counter potential threats.
“Rarely has a military strategy been as necessary as it is in this historic period,” Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said during the presentation of the new strategy in Berlin.
“It goes without saying that we cannot make these scenarios public. Otherwise, we might as well add Vladimir Putin to our mailing list,” Pistorius said.
The military strategy reaffirms the previously stated goal of significantly expanding the Bundeswehr to have a total of 460,000 soldiers ready by the mid-2030s, 200,000 of whom would be in the reserves. The stated goal is to develop the Bundeswehr into Europe’s strongest conventional army — with the fastest possible growth by 2029 to increase defense readiness. https://www.dw.com/en/germany-bundeswehr-nato-russia-ukraine-military-strategy-boris-pistorius/a-76914837
Politico reported the following about this:
Less America, more Europe in Germany’s new military strategy
22 April 2026
Germany aims to rely less on the U.S. and more on Europe to deter the growing Russian threat, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius spelled out Wednesday when announcing the country’s new military strategy.
“We are developing the Bundeswehr into the strongest conventional army in Europe. In the short term, we are increasing our defense and resilience, in the medium term we are aiming for a significant increase in overarching capabilities and in the long term we will establish technological superiority,” announced Pistorius. …
The rethink of German defense policy centers on a phased buildup of military power stretching into the next decade.
In the first phase, through 2029, the focus is on “rapidly maximizing” readiness and endurance — essentially preparing the Bundeswehr to fight and sustain operations at short notice.
The second phase, running to 2035, centers on a structured expansion of capabilities across all domains, aligned with NATO targets.
The final phase, extending toward 2039, aims to transform the Bundeswehr into a technologically advanced military built around innovation and future capabilities. …
Pressed on whether the strategy accounts for a potential reduction of U.S. engagement in Europe under President Donald Trump, Pistorius declined to go into detail but acknowledged that such scenarios are being considered.
NATO, he said, must become “more European” https://www.politico.eu/article/germany-military-strategy-bundeswehr-boris-pistorius/
Germany wants to lead Europe’s military. And it wants Europe to be ready for war.
Notice a couple of warnings/predictions from my January 2025 free eBook Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency:
The Bible teaches about a great power who will be destroyed by its friends, who become enemies (Lamentations 1:1-2)—some statements by Donald Trump are pushing “friends” (NATO allies) into being enemies. (pp. 48-49)
Many in the USA do not seem to realize that once Europeans are spending more for their militaries, they will also expect to have more independence from the USA as to how military might will be used. (p. 63).
Donald Trump has often encouraged increased military spending by the Europeans. … Donald Trump is helping enable the rise of the King of the North/Beast power who will be in league with the final Antichrist. (p. 87)
Donald Trump’s rise has also spurred the Europeans to further unify among themselves. … Donald Trump has been pointed to by various European leaders as ‘proof’ that Europe needs more unification and distance from the USA. (p. 88)
Although, overall, the European nations have not paid for their defense to the amount they have suggested they would, pressuring them to spend more will 1) encourage them to be independent of the USA (p. 213).
World events are confirming those statements.
The moves by the Europeans in general, and the Germans in particular, are consistent with biblical prophecies.
A great European army will rise up according to the Bible:
16 … the king of the north … 25 … shall stir up his power and his courage … with a great army. (Daniel 11:16, 25)
Europe is trying to now raise up that army. It will be militaristically successful for a time per Revelation 13:3-4 and Daniel 11:39-43.
Europe, itself, will become the aggressor against the USA in the future per Daniel 11:39.
Europe already has PESCO, its Permanent Structured Cooperation–which it formed within a year of Donald Trump becoming President of the United States–and his position was used as a reason, in my view, to accelerate the move towards a stronger EU military. Here is a link to a related sermonette video: PESCO and a Great European Army.
Germany, along with other nations in Europe, is in the process of spending more on developing additional military technologies.
And yes, nations across Europe are pointing to Donald Trump’s Administration as a reason that they more strongly feel the need to arm.
The Bible shows that a leader will arise in Europe who, though talking peace, eventually will destroy places like the USA, UK, and Canada:
24 His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power;
He shall destroy fearfully,
And shall prosper and thrive;
He shall destroy the mighty, and also the holy people.25 “Through his cunning
He shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule;
And he shall exalt himself in his heart.
He shall destroy many in their prosperity. (Daniel 8:24-25)39 Thus he shall act against the strongest fortresses with a foreign god, which he shall acknowledge, and advance its glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and divide the land for gain (Daniel 11:39).
25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand. (Daniel 8:25, KJV).
23 And after the league is made with him he shall act deceitfully, for he shall come up and become strong with a small number of people. 24 He shall enter peaceably, even into the richest places of the province; and he shall do what his fathers have not done, nor his forefathers: he shall disperse among them the plunder, spoil, and riches; and he shall devise his plans against the strongholds, but only for a time. (Daniel 11:23-24, NKJV)
Notice that this leader gives people the impression that there will be “peace” and is involved in some type of deal. This is the same leader that confirms the covenant in Daniel 9:27. The term is translated as “peace” in Daniel 8:25 is from the Hebrew term shalvah and essentially means security. In other words, this leader will destroy “many” who are under the impression that they are secure because of some type of security and/or trade arrangement. Such arrangements are now commonly referred to as peace deals or treaties.
He will eliminate the USA and its British-descended allies. But he will also want to control all that he can.
Notice more about the coming Germanic Beast:
1 Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. 2 Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. 3 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. 4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?” (Revelation 13:1-4)
5 “Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger
And the staff in whose hand is My indignation.
6 I will send him against an ungodly nation,
And against the people of My wrath
I will give him charge,
To seize the spoil, to take the prey,
And to tread them down like the mire of the streets.
7 Yet he does not mean so,
Nor does his heart think so;
But it is in his heart to destroy,
And cut off not a few nations.
8 For he says,
‘Are not my princes altogether kings?
9 Is not Calno like Carchemish?
Is not Hamath like Arpad?
Is not Samaria like Damascus?
10 As my hand has found the kingdoms of the idols,
Whose carved images excelled those of Jerusalem and Samaria,
11 As I have done to Samaria and her idols,
Shall I not do also to Jerusalem and her idols?'”12 Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Lord has performed all His work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, that He will say, “I will punish the fruit of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his haughty looks.”
13 For he says:
“By the strength of my hand I have done it,
And by my wisdom, for I am prudent;
Also I have removed the boundaries of the people,
And have robbed their treasuries;
So I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man.
14 My hand has found like a nest the riches of the people,
And as one gathers eggs that are left,
I have gathered all the earth;
And there was no one who moved his wing,
Nor opened his mouth with even a peep.” (Isaiah 10:5-14)
For a time, he will be a successful military leader and the world will marvel because of his defeat of the rich USA and other nations (cf. Daniel 11:39-43).
Yet, he will arise talking peace.
His rise will happen after one or more crises (related to one, watch Fourth Horseman, COVID, and the Rise of the Beast of Revelation.). The old Radio Church of God published the following:
Germany is … going to spark World War III!
Notice the prophecies!
“O Asshur, the rod of Mine anger,” declares God. Here is a prophecy concerning Germany — the descendants of Asshur today! “The staff,” says God, “in their hand is Mine indignation. I will send him against an hypocritical nation (that is, Israel — America and Britain today), and… I will give him a charge to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets” (Isaiah 10:5-6). …
God is going to punish us by the very nation whom we have tried to buy for an ally! It is God who is going to permit the revival of Nazism to punish us in World War III. We have won two major wars against Germany in one generation. But the third time God is going to punish us as we have never been punished before! The sword of war is going to strike us “the third time” (Ezekiel 21:14), and we are going to be led away captive to Assyria and to all nations (Isaiah 11:10-12).
When our people have learned their lesson, and repented of their sins and quit breaking God’s law — the Ten Commandments — and surrender their lives to their Creator, we read in Isaiah 10:12-22: “Wherefore it shall come to pass, that, when the Lord hath performed His whole work upon Mount Zion and on Jerusalem” — when His people Israel and Judah have gone through trial and tribulation — “I,” declares God, “will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks. For he saith, ‘By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom; for I am prudent: and I have removed the bonds of the people, and have robbed their treasures, and I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man: and my hand,’” continues the coming dictator of Germany, “‘hath found as a nest the riches of the people: and as one gathereth eggs that are left, have I gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped.'(Hoeh H. Germany in Prophecy. Radio Church of God, 1958)
The old Worldwide Church of God published the following:
As long as prosperity exists, the German way of life will not change. As history clearly shows, however, a fall in the economy always means an alteration in the political course of the nation! Not only will Germany be affected, but the REST OF EUROPE as well. What will happen to Germany, will equally apply to all of Europe.
An economic problem in Germany — the economic heart of Europe — will affect all of Europe and force a UNIFICATION to prevent collapse. The DANGER TO AMERICA will then become most ACUTE. …
The Bible prophesies that this united European power will ATTACK and DESTROY America and Britain! (Boraker R. We Saw the New Germany! Good News, November 1967)
Yes, after a crisis, things will change and a reorganization that will bring unity under the Beast will occur per Revelation 17:12-13 (see also Must the Ten Kings of Revelation 17:12 Rule over Ten Currently Existing Nations?).
We have already seen a lot of reactions related to Russian incursion into Ukraine as well as Donald Trump. Other matters will spark other militaristic steps.
This will not end well for the USA or its British-descended allies.
Yes, Germany is rising up in a military way.
The days of the USA are numbered.
The German-European plan is for Europe to be a strong military power independent of the USA. And one that the Bible shows will ultimately defeat the USA (Daniel 11:39; see also USA in Prophecy: The Strongest Fortresses).
Although many in the USA and elsewhere act like that is not possible, those of us who understand certain aspects of biblical prophecy realize that the Bible shows that:
39 Thus he shall act against the strongest fortresses with a foreign god, which he shall acknowledge, and advance its glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and divide the land for gain. (Daniel 11:39)
The “he” above is the European King of the North. In the 21st century, the “strongest fortresses” belong to the USA and its British-descended allies (cf. Daniel 8:24-25; Isaiah 17:3)–and notice that the Bible says that the power with the strongest fortresses will be defeated.
Steps to create a great, German-dominated, European army are being taken now, with plans to do more in the future.
Related to that, the Continuing Church of God (CCOG) put together the following Bible News Prophecy video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel:
Various leaders in Germany have pointed to a more unified, militaristic, and German-led Europe. After Russia’s ‘special military operation’ into Ukraine, Germany declared it would increase its military spending to the third highest level of any nation on the planet? German-Foreign-Policy.com reported that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz wants the European Union to play a powerful and more unified geopolitical role. Is what he is stating consistent with prophecies in the Book of Revelation about Europe reorganizing and turning power over to one called the Beast? Are some in Poland and Hungary (like Peter G. Feher) concerned about the domination of Europe by Germany? Is a European/German leader, prophesied as the “King of the North,” to make some type of a deal with a leader of nations in the Middle East and North Africa called the “King of the South”? Is that King of the North prophesied to have a great army and many ships? Could the Beast/King of the North be German? Did the old Worldwide Church of God warn back in 1980 that, in the future, the German people would be concerned enough about Russia that it would call for a Bavarian strongman to lead them? Does the Bible point to such a leader rising promising peace? Steve Dupuie and Dr. Thiel address those issues.
Here is a link to our video: Germany wants to lead a united Europe.
Germany is re-arming.
Remember that Jesus said:
36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man. (Luke 21:36)
Some items of possibly related interest may include:
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe? Here is are links to related videos: European history and the Bible, Europe In Prophecy, The End of European Babylon, and Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European? Here is a link to a related sermon in the Spanish language: El Fin de la Babilonia Europea.
Must the Ten Kings of Revelation 17:12 Rule over Ten Currently Existing Nations? Some claim that these passages refer to a gathering of 10 currently existing nations together, while one group teaches that this is referring to 11 nations getting together. Is that what Revelation 17:12-13 refers to? The ramifications of misunderstanding this are enormous.
USA in Prophecy: The Strongest Fortresses Can you point to scriptures, like Daniel 11:39, that point to the USA in the 21st century? This article does. A related sermon is titled: Do these 7 prophesies point to the end of the USA?
Who is the King of the West? Why is there no Final End-Time King of the West in Bible Prophecy? Is the United States the King of the West? Here is a version in the Spanish language: ¿Quién es el Rey del Occidente? ¿Por qué no hay un Rey del Occidente en la profecía del tiempo del fin? A related sermon is also available: The Bible, the USA, and the King of the West.
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies for the Great Monarch point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States? In the Spanish language check out ¿Quién es el Rey del Norte? Here are links to two related videos: The King of the North is Alive: What to Look Out For and The Future King of the North.
The Great Monarch: Biblical and Greco-Roman Catholic Prophecies Is the ‘Great Monarch’ of Greco-Roman Catholic prophecies endorsed or condemned by the Bible? Two sermons of related interest are also available: Great Monarch: Messiah or False Christ? and Great Monarch in 50+ Beast Prophecies.
Germany’s Assyrian Roots Throughout History Are the Germanic peoples descended from Asshur of the Bible? Have there been real Christians in Germanic history? What about the “Holy Roman Empire”? There is also a You-Tube video sermon on this titled Germany’s Biblical Origins.
Germany in Biblical and Greco-Roman Catholic Prophecy Does Assyria in the Bible equate to an end time power inhabiting the area of the old Roman Empire? What does prophecy say Germany will do and what does it say will happen to most of the German people? Here is a link to a video Is the USA Pushing Germany to Start WWIII?
Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies? Is Donald Trump going to save the USA or are there going to be many disastrous unintended consequences of his statements and policies? What will happen? This is a free eBook.
Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America? Where did those people come from? Can you totally rely on DNA? What about other peoples? Do you really know what will happen to Europe and the English-speaking peoples? What about Africa, Asia, South America, and the Islands? This free online book provides scriptural, scientific, historical references, and commentary to address those matters. Here are links to related sermons: Lost tribes, the Bible, and DNA; Lost tribes, prophecies, and identifications; 11 Tribes, 144,000, and Multitudes; Israel, Jeremiah, Tea Tephi, and British Royalty; Gentile European Beast; Royal Succession, Samaria, and Prophecies; Asia, Islands, Latin America, Africa, and Armageddon; When Will the End of the Age Come?; Rise of the Prophesied King of the North; Christian Persecution from the Beast; WWIII and the Coming New World Order; and Woes, WWIV, and the Good News of the Kingdom of God.