Against the backdrop of the planned withdrawal of US military units from Europe, CDU defense politician Thomas Röwekamp is calling for greater military cooperation among NATO’s European member states.
Speaking to the TV channel “Welt” on Thursday, the chairman of the Defence Committee stated, “We must ensure that the withdrawal does not create any gap in military capabilities, but rather that we are prepared and able to replace those capabilities in Europe.”
Röwekamp emphasized that Germany is clearly committed to contributing to this effort and is capable of executing it. However, he also noted that nations within Europe must strengthen their cooperation. While citing a failed joint procurement project with France, he stressed that this should not be viewed as a model for European collaboration. Instead, he pointed to numerous other forms of successful cooperation across the continent. He offered examples such as the partnership with the Norwegians on a new submarine, the collaboration on future air defense systems, and the effective cooperation with Ukraine, stating, “So there are many forms of cooperation. It is not a question of capabilities that we lack in Europe. It is only a matter of political will.”
Furthermore, following the failure of the joint FCAS fighter jet project with France, Röwekamp argued that such military procurements should not be treated merely as industrial projects. He explicitly rejected the idea of allocating production packages or determining which countries hold technological leadership. As the chairman of the Defence Committee, his priority is securing the military capability itself. He added that the crucial factor is not primarily where the equipment is produced, but rather how quickly and efficiently it can be operational. Röwekamp concluded that aligning this new priority among NATO members in Europe, as well as with their wider European partners, will be entirely decisive.
