Trump’s statement about NATO’s obligation to provide assistance has fueled the debate about Germany’s defense budget. There is discussion about a higher special fund, strengthening the arms industry and the debt brake.
With his statements about NATO’s obligation to provide assistance, former US President Donald Trump caused concern – including in Germany. Now the voices are getting louder calling for more money for the Bundeswehr. The CDU defense politician Roderich Kiesewetter spoke in the Süddeutsche Zeitung in favor of tripling the Bundeswehr’s special assets. “It is completely clear that we need 300 billion instead of 100 billion so that the Bundeswehr can become combat-ready,” he said.
However, misappropriation of the money to plug budget holes must be ruled out. In addition, a permanent defense budget of at least two percent of economic power must be achieved in parallel. However, this can only be achieved “with re-prioritisation and clear structural reforms”.
Black: Defense budget decouple from the debt brake
In his own words, SPD budget politician Andreas Schwarz also sees an urgent need to catch up on defense spending. He suggested permanently decoupling funds for defense and civil protection from the debt brake in the Basic Law because of the uncertainties in the USA and the threat from Russia. Germany urgently needs to invest in civil and disaster protection and needs much more cyber defense, bunkers, mobile operating theaters and hospital supplies.
Trump, who plans to run again in the US presidential election in November, said at a campaign rally that he would not protect NATO allies from a Russian invasion if they did not spend enough on their own defense.
The declared goal of NATO countries is to spend at least two percent of their gross domestic product on defense spending every year. Germany has been below this in recent years. But this year “and forever,” according to Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the country will maintain the two percent mark.
Germany as the most important Ukraine supporter in Europe
The fact that the government is investing more in armaments is also crucial for Ukraine. Germany is the largest military donor to Kiev in Europe and is second only to the United States in the world. According to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, Germany has so far provided more than 17 billion euros in military aid to Ukraine.
Nevertheless, Ukraine is coming under increasing pressure. One of the reasons: there is a lack of ammunition. Delivery times are currently up to 28 months. New factories are intended to change this, such as the plant of the arms company Rheinmetall. Yesterday Scholz laid the foundation stone for the facility in the Lüneburg Heath. 50,000 artillery shells are expected to leave the factory in 2025, 100,000 the following year and later 200,000 per year.
It primarily produces 155-millimeter artillery shells, as well as explosives and components for rocket artillery. Rheinmetall plans to invest a total of 300 million euros in the new plant and 500 jobs will be created.
Union faction vice-president calls for strengthening Defense industry
The arms company’s investments are important, said Union parliamentary group vice-president Johann Wadephul (CDU) to the “Rheinische Post”. However, the federal government must present a strategy to strengthen the defense industry: “Two years after the announcement of the turning point, it is high time that the industrial base was finally broadened.”
The Bundeswehr could only become the backbone of NATO’s conventional defense in Europe if there was an industrial base for it. The government must “finally present a comprehensive strategy to strengthen the German security and defense industry; the Chancellor should have made this a top priority long ago,” Wadephul continued.
Gabor Halasz, ARD Berlin, tagesschau, February 13, 2024 6:04 a.m