Defense Minister Pistorius has again called for increased military spending in the Bundestag. A strong Bundeswehr is needed. In addition, conscription must be discussed again.
Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has spoken out in favor of further strengthening the Bundeswehr and increasing defense spending. Security doesn’t come for free, he said during the budget debate in the Bundestag.
He warned again that “Putin’s imperialist aspirations” would not end with Ukraine, but that Putin wanted to continue pushing boundaries. Therefore, German support for Ukraine must continue. At the same time, the Bundeswehr’s defense capabilities must also be expanded again, emphasized Pistorius. “We need a Bundeswehr that is strong and also acts as a deterrent.” Pistorius emphasized that war can only be prevented by those who prepare for it.
“The defense budget must increase permanently”
The minister welcomed the fact that with record spending of 72 billion euros, the NATO requirement of spending at least two percent of economic output on defense was met for the first time in decades. “This is going in the right direction.” However, it is clear that the defense budget will have to increase permanently even after the special fund has been exhausted. What is needed is a “reliably plannable budget”.
According to Pistorius, defense spending amounts to 2.1 percent of economic output. This includes billions in payments from the Bundeswehr special fund, which was set up with a volume of 100 billion euros after the Russian attack on Ukraine.
What happens after the special fund?
According to a “Spiegel” report, the Bundeswehr will face a funding gap of 56 billion euros from 2028, when the special fund will no longer be available. The magazine cited an internal financial needs analysis by the Defense Ministry. Pistorius did not address the report in his speech.
Call for debate about conscription
In view of the security situation and the personnel requirements of the Bundeswehr, Pistorius also believes that further debates about the introduction of compulsory service or military service are necessary.
Society must ask itself the question of who should defend this country when things get serious. It is also about the representation of women. However, Pistorius did not make any decisions on the issue of conscription. “Every model needs political majorities and a society that supports it,” he called for an open discussion.
Andreas Reuter, ARD Berlin, tagesschau, January 31, 2024 9:46 p.m