Annette Lehnigk‑Emden, the chief procurement officer of the German armed forces, says the country has moved too quickly in trying to reduce its dependence on the United States for weapons.
“Everything was moving a bit fast toward the demand to become independent” she told the ARD. She added that contracts with U.S. suppliers have gone smoothly and that there have been no difficulties in processing them. “We are satisfied with the deliveries from the United States” Lehnigk‑Emden said.
Germany currently purchases U.S.‑made military equipment such as F‑35 fighter jets and Chinook helicopters. The Bundeswehr’s procurement office, headquartered in Koblenz, operates a dedicated contact office in the United States. When asked whether this office might be at risk because of the drive for more independence, she replied: “If the political situation were to change, we would of course respond”.
For years Germany has emphasised a shift toward less reliance on U.S. support in Europe. Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine four years ago, the debate about Europe’s strategic autonomy has intensified.