Germany has named Army Chief Christian Freuding as its next chief of defense, the defense ministry said on Thursday .
Freuding will assume the role of Germany's highest-ranking soldier in February 2027. He will succeed Carsten Breuer, who was chosen as the next head of NATO's military committee. The committee is the alliance's top military authority and a key advisory body for its political leaders.
Freuding became army chief in October 2025. He spent years overseeing Berlin's arms supplies to Kyiv. He pushed for the implementation of new technology tested in Ukraine. He initiated a drone regiment in the German army.
"Lieutenant General Freuding embodies camaraderie and the values of our Bundeswehr," Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said. "He is guided by a clear moral compass," the minister added. Pistorius said Freuding has "impressively demonstrated that, even in times of major changes and challenges, he keeps a cool head, makes the right decisions quickly, and puts them into action."
The Financial Times reported that the appointment places a soldier with close ties to Ukraine at the head of the armed forces . The Bundeswehr is undergoing vast transformation. Berlin leads Europe's drive to re-arm, the newspaper said.
