Defense spending
Scholz promises the Bundeswehr significantly more money
Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz during a capability demonstration by the Territorial Disposal Group at the Cologne-Wahn military airport. photo
© Kay Nietfeld/dpa-POOL/dpa
“Our peace order is in danger,” warns the Chancellor – and promises the troops “permanent” more resources.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has permanently significantly higher military leadership in the Bundeswehr Defense spending in the double-digit billion range is guaranteed. The special fund for the Bundeswehr, which is worth 100 billion euros, is only “a first important step,” said the Chancellor on Friday at the Bundeswehr conference in Berlin. Defense spending amounting to two percent of gross domestic product would now be guaranteed “permanently”. To achieve this goal, it is expected that more than 20 billion euros per year will have to flow into the defense budget.
For the first time, Germany will reach NATO’s two percent target next year, said Scholz. “We will guarantee this two percent permanently, throughout the 1920s and the 1930s. I say that very consciously, because of course some things that you might order now will be delivered in the 1930s.” But money isn’t everything. Scholz said: “The central prelude to action that follows from the turning point is overcoming the organizational and bureaucratic sluggishness that has been slowing down the troops for years.”
Pistorius: Need a powerful Bundeswehr
The global political situation makes it clear how important the change of course is, said Scholz, who mentioned the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and also the major attack by the Islamist Hamas on Israel. He warned: “Our peace order is in danger.”
The federal government will discuss the future course of the armed forces with the military leadership at the Bundeswehr conference on Friday. Among the topics of the meeting are the planned relocation of a brigade to Lithuania and a restructuring of the Ministry of Defense.
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) presented his new defense policy guidelines at the conference the day before. These once again set national and alliance defense as a core task and declare war efficiency as the maxim for action. Scholz said on Friday: “Today, no one can seriously doubt what we in Germany have avoided for a long time, namely that we need a powerful Bundeswehr.”