# Germany names Army chief Freuding its next chief of defense, Defense News reports

Army Chief Christian Freuding, who oversaw arms supplies to Ukraine, will take Germany's top military post in February 2027, Defense News reports.

Published 2026-11-05 by TGOs. Canonical: https://tgos.io/news/2026/11/05/germany-names-army-chief-freuding-its-next-chief-of/

German Army Chief Christian Freuding will become chief of defense in February 2027, Defense News reported in a Reuters story Nov. 5, citing a defense ministry statement.[1] He will succeed Chief of Defense Carsten Breuer, who was chosen as the next head of NATO's military committee.[1]

Freuding oversaw Berlin's arms supplies to Kyiv, pushed to implement technology tested in Ukraine and initiated a German Army drone regiment, the report said.[1]

His experience also includes planning at the ministry level: when his Army appointment was announced in July 2025, he led the defense ministry's Planning and Leadership Staff and its Special Staff Ukraine.[2]

## Why it matters

The chief of defense is responsible for Germany's overall concept of military defense, including planning and development, as well as command of the armed forces and the planning and conduct of operations.[3] The role also serves as the federal government's military adviser and forms part of the defense ministry's leadership.[3]

## Sources

1. Defense News (Reuters): Germany names Army Chief Freuding as next chief of defense <https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2026/11/05/germany-names-army-chief-freuding-as-next-chief-of-defense/>
2. German Federal Ministry of Defence: Veränderungen bei militärischen Spitzenverwendungen, July 1, 2025 <https://www.bmvg.de/de/presse/veraenderungen-bei-militaerischen-spitzenverwendungen-5960412>
3. German Federal Ministry of Defence: Der Generalinspekteur der Bundeswehr <https://www.bmvg.de/de/ministerium/der-generalinspekteur-der-bundeswehr>