German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) presented on April 28 a military strategy intended to make the Bundeswehr "Europe's strongest conventional army", explicitly naming Russia as the threat. Active-duty strength is to rise from the current 185,000 to 260,000 by 2035, with reservists growing to 200,000. Press reaction is split: the Financial Times praises Berlin's "laser focus" on the Russian threat; the Frankfurter Rundschau warns of a "huge gap between aspiration and reality" on recruitment, citing barracks accommodation problems and stalled procurement programmes; in pro-Kremlin Izvestia, German-affairs analyst Maria Khorolskaya dismisses the plan as routine modernisation rather than aggressive remilitarisation.

Germany deported 25 Afghan men convicted of serious crimes including manslaughter and rape to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan overnight, the Interior Ministry confirmed. The charter flight landed in Kabul on Tuesday morning.

German prosecutors have launched an espionage investigation after a hidden camera was discovered at Minden train station, a key loading point for Ukraine-bound military transports, suspecting preparations for sabotage.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said on Tuesday that Germany is learning from Ukraine in drone technology and cyber defense, as Berlin announced new measures to deepen bilateral defense cooperation.

Germany's coalition government is set to approve a healthcare reform aimed at saving billions and stabilizing insurance contributions, alongside the 2027 budget framework. The German cabinet approved the healthcare reform package on April 28, 2026, with last-minute changes reducing the savings target from €19.6 billion to €16.3 billion. Key modifications include a reduced surcharge for spousal co-insurance (2.5% instead of 3.5%), no general cut to sick pay (with higher contributions from pharmaceutical companies instead), and a gradual increase in federal funding for healthcare of basic-income recipients (€250 million in 2027, rising to €500 million by 2029). The sugar tax on soft drinks from 2028 is included, with estimated annual revenue of €450 million earmarked for health insurance. The reform also introduces higher prescription co-payments (from €5 to €7.50), ending free family insurance for spouses from 2028 with a 2.5% surcharge, a one-time increase in the contribution assessment ceiling by €300, cuts to homeopathy and skin cancer screening, a reduction in dental subsidy from 60% to 50%, and a sugar tax on soft drinks from 2028. The plan aims to save €16.3 billion in 2025 and stabilize contribution rates. Chancellor Friedrich Merz called the reform "historic" and aims for parliamentary passage before the summer recess. The reform is set to take effect in 2027. Disagreements persist within the coalition, particularly over burden-sharing between insurers and the pharmaceutical industry, and the potential suspension of the debt brake due to the Iran crisis. The budget framework projects €543 billion in spending with €111 billion in new debt.

The German government plans to introduce a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages from 2028, with revenue earmarked for statutory health insurance. The measure is part of a broader health reform package and budget negotiations for 2027. CSU leader Markus Söder dropped his opposition after securing that funds go to health insurance, not the general budget. The reform also includes higher tobacco and alcohol taxes, and a reduced savings target of €16.3 billion for statutory health insurance.

Markus Söder, leader of Bavaria's CSU party, has indicated a shift in his long-standing opposition to tax increases by expressing openness to a higher tax rate for individuals earning over €300,000 annually. He conditions this on using the revenue to relieve lower-income earners. The proposal is part of broader tax reform discussions in Germany's coalition government and is likely welcomed by the SPD coalition partner.

India has inducted its third nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, INS Aridhaman, enabling continuous at-sea nuclear deterrence patrols. The indigenously built vessel carries longer-range missiles and doubles the missile capacity of its predecessors. Separately, India is finalizing an $8 billion deal with Germany's TKMS to build six advanced stealth submarines with Air-Independent Propulsion technology, marking the first transfer of German submarine production technology to a non-European country. These moves aim to counter growing Chinese naval presence in the Indian Ocean and address India's aging submarine fleet.