Defense chief rejects claims Germany puts its own arms industry ahead of Europe

BERLIN — German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius on Wednesday pushed back against criticism that Berlin is putting its own arms industry ahead of European defense cooperation, arguing that other countries are doing exactly the same. Speaking at the Berlin Security Conference, Pistorius was responding to Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, chair of the European Parliament’s defense committee, who accused Germany of remaining too focused on buying weapons from its own manufacturers instead of working with European partners.

“Everyone says, unanimously and every day, not just on Sundays, that we want more defense cooperation and more joint armament projects,” Pistorius said. “But when push comes to shove, every country says, just as unanimously, but each for itself: ‘My industry must not be left behind.’” The dispute highlights a major problem for Europe’s defense ambitions.

EU countries want to build stronger armed forces and buy more weapons together, but governments are also keen to protect jobs and factories at home. The numbers show how difficult that cooperation remains.