300 instead of 100 billion euros: CDU politicians open to higher Bundeswehr special funds

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CDU Bundestag member Roderich Kiesewetter: Don't rule out an increase

Photo: Marco Rauch / dpa

The Russian attack on Ukraine two years ago shook up the German government, with Chancellor Olaf Scholz promising a “turning point.” This includes: A special fund for the armament of the Bundeswehr worth 100 billion euros. The CDU defense politician Roderich Kiesewetter is now questioning whether that is enough. "I wouldn't rule out an increase in the special fund for the Bundeswehr," he told the "Süddeutsche Zeitung." "It's completely clear that we need 300 billion instead of 100 billion so that the Bundeswehr can become combat-ready."

However, Kiesewetter demanded that misappropriation of the money to plug budget holes must be ruled out, and that a permanent defense budget of at least two percent of economic power must still be achieved at the same time. “This is only possible with re-prioritisation and clear structural reforms.” However, the initiative is not without controversy. A spokesman for the Union parliamentary group told the dpa news agency on Tuesday: "Mr. Kiesewetter's proposal is not the opinion of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group."

The loan-financed special fund was decided after the Russian attack on Ukraine in order to eliminate equipment deficiencies in the Bundeswehr. There were repeated calls that the 100 billion euros were not enough. At the beginning of last year, the Commissioner for the Armed Forces, Eva Högl, said that she was hearing from experts and the troops that 300 billion euros would be needed to “significantly change something” in the Bundeswehr. "That doesn't seem like something out of thin air to me."

Against the background of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, but also the uncertainty surrounding Donald Trump's presidential candidacy in the USA, there is currently a struggle over the future financing of the Bundeswehr. The federal government wants to implement NATO's goal of spending at least two percent of economic output on defense. For Germany, this means - roughly speaking - that more than 20 billion euros will likely have to be added to the defense budget of around 50 billion euros every year. This is probably possible this year because of the special fund. How the goal will be achieved in the medium term – after the special fund has been used up – remains to be seen.

Permanent increase in the military budget

The SPD budget politician Andreas Schwarz has now proposed permanently exempting defense and civil defense spending from the debt brake in the Basic Law. “Excluding all defense costs from the debt brake would definitely be attractive,” Schwarz told the “Süddeutsche Zeitung.” "There is a lot of catching up to do, and the threat from Russia will not disappear."

Schwarz also argued that Germany urgently needs to invest in civil defense and disaster protection, "we need much more cyber defense, bunkers, mobile operating rooms, hospital supplies." The Union must also have an interest in this. »It is clear that we would need a two-thirds majority in order to be able to change the Basic Law accordingly. Such a solution might also be a bridge for the FDP to cross," he said.

This year, the traffic light coalition has kept open the possibility of suspending the debt brake again if Germany has to significantly increase spending to support Ukraine again.

mrc/dpa