Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner has dismissed criticism of the planned defense budget for the upcoming year and remains unwilling to increase it despite significant backlash. Lindner defended the government's proposal, stating that the defense expenditures were agreed upon with Chancellor Scholz himself and surpass the NATO target of two percent of the economic output with a planned increase to 53 billion euros.
He emphasized that Germany's defense spending already exceeds that of other G7 nations like France and Italy. While a further budget growth is planned for the upcoming years, Lindner highlighted that the final decision lies with the Bundestag.
Additionally, he urged Defense Minister Boris Pistorius to use the funds more efficiently, stressing the importance of maximizing security and capabilities for the Bundeswehr per euro of taxpayer money. The compromise for next year's state budget, agreed upon by the 'traffic light coalition,' allocates a smaller defense budget than Pistorius had requested, leading to dissatisfaction from the Defense Minister.
Despite the lower initial allocation, the defense budget is set to increase to around 80 billion euros by 2028. Pistorius expressed concerns over the reduced funding hampering necessary adjustments in line with current threats and the evolving security landscape.
The criticism extends beyond the political spectrum to include discontent from the Bundeswehr and parliamentary factions. While Pistorius remains optimistic about potential alterations, Lindner's stance signals a firm position on the defense budget amidst ongoing debates.
