Scholz, for his part, said he was certain of Pistorius’ “loyalty” in an interview given Tuesday to the German daily Welt. “I also say very clearly that the SPD and I want to win the next elections together.”

Make Germany “ready for war”?

Scholz chose Pistorius to become his defense minister in January 2023, almost a year after Russia’s all-out invasion of Ukraine. At the time, the selection confused many observers since Pistorius had no experience of national leadership; his previous position was that of Minister of the Interior and Sports of the German state of Lower Saxony.

Pistorius has since become the country’s most popular politician, arguing that Germany’s military, the Bundeswehr, needs robust investment after decades of post-Cold War disarmament. The goal, he often said, was to make the German army “fit for war.” Pistorius also launched a new recruitment initiative, based on a volunteer model, in a bid to bolster Germany’s dwindling military ranks.

Pistorius’ tinkering extended deeply to Germany’s military structure. Earlier this year, he signed a decree restructuring the military with a new emphasis on territorial defense rather than occasional forays abroad.

Just a few years ago, many voters would have dismissed Pistorius’ comments on preparing for war as militaristic. But Russia’s war against Ukraine has changed minds in Germany, and polls show that most Germans service more investment in their army.

Pistorius also quickly built his international reputation. His frequent calls for Berlin to meet or exceed NATO’s spending target of 2 percent of GDP have won him many fans among Western allies who have long urged German leaders to invest more in their military.