Concerns Rise as Lavrov Critiques Germanys Military Ambitions

On Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed deep concern over Germany’s intention to establish the “strongest” military in Europe, describing it as “very alarming.”

“Many were instantly reminded of the last century, when Germany became the dominant military force twice, causing significant issues,” Lavrov remarked during a security forum in Moscow.

Historically hesitant to increase its military budget since World War II, Germany has recently reversed this trend, positioning itself as one of Ukraine’s most committed allies.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz has also committed to allocating “all necessary financial resources” to modernize Germany’s long-neglected military forces.

Additionally, Berlin has recently deployed a 5,000-member armored brigade to Lithuania, marking the first permanent stationing of foreign troops there since WWII ended.

The Kremlin has often referenced the Soviet Union’s battle against Nazi Germany to garner domestic support for its invasion of Ukraine, framing the conflict as a modern continuation of that historical fight.

Before the invasion in 2022, Russia and Germany had relatively stable relations, but since then, Berlin has emerged as a key military and political supporter of Kyiv, a commitment Merz intends to maintain.