German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius believes Germany has a duty to do significantly more for European security.
“Given our size, our economic strength and our geostrategic role, Germany has a responsibility to do significantly more than it has done so far – and, of course, not just for our own security, but for the security of Europe as a whole,” he said on Monday at the industrial trade fair in Hanover.
Economic strength and security are inextricably linked, Pistorius said. “Without security, there can be no prosperous economy; without economic strength, there can be no security.” A strong industrial sector is an essential prerequisite for the defence of democracy and security, he said.
Since the Russian attack on Ukraine more than four years ago, security has ceased to be a marginal issue in Germany, Pistorius said. “The economy feels the immediate impact of geopolitical threats and risks. The war in Iran and the current conflict in the Strait of Hormuz make this all too clear.”
The minister said Germany had been too slow in implementing innovations. “Particularly in the defence sector, given the speed at which things are changing, we cannot afford to let years pass between a functioning, good prototype and series production.”
In a world where threats develop in days rather than years, he said, speed is “an essential prerequisite for our security.”
He cited drones as an example, and said Germany’s Ukrainian partners are now talking about innovation cycles of six to 12 weeks.
Boris Pistorius, Germany’s Defence Minister, delivers a speech at the 2026 Hanover Trade Fair on ‘Defence-Related Value Creation: Industrial Base, High Tech, and Startups.’ Brazil is this year’s partner country at the trade fair. Moritz Frankenberg/dpa
Boris Pistorius, Germany’s Defence Minister, delivers a speech at the 2026 Hanover Trade Fair on ‘Defence-Related Value Creation: Industrial Base, High Tech, and Startups.’ Brazil is this year’s partner country at the trade fair. Moritz Frankenberg/dpa