Germany vows to step up militarily but rhetoric may struggle to match reality

Not all is going smoothly after Friedrich Merz's promise to build up German army and no limits' on helping Ukraine

Within days of Russia launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Olaf Scholz announced a Zeitenwende, or historical turning point". The then German chancellor promised a security transformation by increasing defence spending, sending more aid to Ukraine, taking a tougher approach to authoritarian states and rapidly reducing Germany's dependence on Russian energy.

It was a psychological turning point for a country haunted by its Nazi past but now expected to step up - as the biggest economic power in Europe - to a threat to the continent.