NATO General Markus Laubenthal argues that the production of armaments across Germany and other NATO member states is excessively restrained by regulatory hurdles. In a guest article for the FAZ, Laubenthal stated that the sluggish pace of defense manufacturing is the most significant risk to Europe’s ability to deter aggression and defend itself.
He warned that the Western alliance faces the threat of being surpassed by its rivals in terms of production capability, scaling, and speed, noting that Europe is currently inhibiting its own progress in crucial areas. The General called for a reduction in bureaucratic requirements and reporting obligations while demanding more exception permits to facilitate the rapid construction of production lines and ammunition facilities. Furthermore, he asserted that defense-related businesses require legal certainty to fully leverage and utilize flexible provisions within EU labor laws, allowing them to maximize production capacity.
Laubenthal also criticized the current approach to defense-critical raw materials and chemicals, which he said are still being managed using “peacetime regulatory logic”. He argued that this only strengthens dependencies on supply chains whose stability cannot be guaranteed. He further lamented that both Germany and the other NATO nations are constrained when certifying systems that have already proven themselves effective in the conflict in Ukraine. Such delays impede, if not halt, the swift integration and training of their armed forces.
However, the General emphasized that simply purchasing and stockpiling 250,000 drones is insufficient. He stressed that production capacity must be maintained and that several thousand drones must be deployed annually for military training to provide a credible deterrent to Russia. Laubenthal holds the position of Chief of Staff SHAPE within NATO, making him one of the most senior German officers in the alliance. As Chief of Staff at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Mons, Belgium, he manages the staff of the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEuro), who oversees all military operations for the alliance.
