This article examines Germany’s pivotal role in reshaping European security following the 2022 Zeitenwende, amid the evolving transatlantic landscape of 2025. With the war in Ukraine ongoing and US commitment increasingly uncertain, Europe faces urgent pressure to take greater responsibility for its own defence. The study investigates whether Germany can credibly lead a more autonomous and resilient European security architecture, and what strategic, institutional, and political reforms are essential for this transformation. Despite notable policy shifts – such as lifting defence spending limits and deepening cooperation with France and Poland – Germany’s transition from a cautious civilian power to a decisive strategic actor remains a work in progress.
Central to this moment is the question of whether Germany, as Europe’s largest economy and most influential political power, is capable of assuming leadership in the stablishment of a renewed and more resilient European security order
