Kathrine Frich
Major alliances don’t fracture with a single announcement, they fade in small, unexpected ways.
When the phone stops ringing, when messages go unanswered, when trusted channels suddenly fall silent, partners begin to sense that something fundamental has shifted.
Germany’s top Army commander now says that his once-constant line to Washington has gone quiet.
Strains behind the scenes
Germany is pushing ahead with a sweeping overhaul of its defence posture, ramping up spending and debating whether to reintroduce universal military service.
The Bundeswehr faces a major personnel gap, prompting plans to expand troop numbers to roughly 260,000.
Berlin also intends to build a large reserve force, aiming for long-term readiness as NATO updates its collective defence expectations.
Alongside this, Germany has been investing in new technologies, including drones, and emphasising closer cooperation with allied militaries.
Freuding sounds the alarm
General Christian Freuding told The Atlantic that communication with Washington has sharply deteriorated.
He said he had been exchanging messages with American counterparts “day and night,” but now contact is “cut off, really cut off.”
He described how German officials have had to turn to their embassy in Washington for updates on US policy.
Staff there, he said, are “trying to find someone at the Pentagon” who can clarify recent American decisions.
One of the biggest surprises was the lack of warning about a partial suspension of US supplies to Ukraine.
A growing chill
Freuding voiced concern about what the communication freeze represents.
“Not only do you have an enemy knocking on your door, but you’re also losing a true ally and friend,” he told the magazine.
His remarks underscore broader worries in Berlin that the geopolitical landscape is shifting at a moment when Germany is trying to strengthen its military and fulfil NATO obligations.
Sources: The Atlantic, WP.
