Original Coverage & Source Attribution: www.aa.com.tr
Ayhan Şimşek
04 November 2026•Update: 04 November 2026
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius on Wednesday congratulated US Democrats on their midterm election victory while stressing that Europeans must still take on more responsibility within NATO to keep the alliance strong.
Speaking at the Berlin Security Conference, Pistorius said credible deterrence against an increasingly aggressive Russia requires both a strong Europe and a strong transatlantic partnership.
“Regardless of the consequences of the midterm elections on US policy, on the results of which I heartily congratulate the Democrats in the US, it continues to apply that NATO must become more European in order to be able to remain transatlantic,” he said.
On Washington’s longer-term priorities, Pistorius said the United States has for years been turning more of its attention to the Indo-Pacific and other parts of the world. He described the shift as also serving Europe’s interests. For Europeans, he added, this creates a clear task that they are working on every day.
“We are building more of our own conventional capabilities. We are taking on more responsibility and a larger share of the burdens within the alliance. And that is right,” the defense minister stressed.
“And we are increasingly getting into a position where we can also defend our continent with a significantly larger own contribution,” he added.
Pistorius laid out specific targets. By 2029, he said, Germany and its European partners must raise their readiness as quickly and comprehensively as possible. By 2035, the goal is to become a key pillar of conventional defense in Europe, while planning for the armed forces of tomorrow with new capabilities in space and cyberspace, artificial intelligence and autonomous systems.
