Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) hosted NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Wednesday for the weekly cabinet meeting.
This gathering marks the second time since the start of the black-red coalition that the cabinet has taken place in the Ministry of Defense rather than the Chancellor’s Office. Consequently, defense policy initiatives are the primary focus of the agenda. Key legislative proposals scheduled for adoption include measures to strengthen military reserves and to accelerate infrastructure development across the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr). A specific discussion with Rutte is also planned.
Beyond immediate policy, the meeting also serves to prepare for the NATO summit scheduled to take place in Turkey next week. Following the meeting, Merz, Rutte, and Pistorius are set to join together for a joint press conference.
