2024-03-09 21:54:04
According to a report, the Bundeswehr is missing up to six billion euros. The defense minister is alarmed because without the money the NATO quota might not be met.
The Bundeswehr is missing a million euros in its budget: according to a report in the “Bild” newspaper, it should be a total of six billion euros. Due to strict budget planning, it might now happen that Germany does not reach an often discussed NATO quota next year.
The member states of the alliance have committed to investing two percent of their gross domestic product in defense every year. Germany reached the goal for the first time this year. The reason is, among other things, the large-scale special fund for the Bundeswehr worth 100 billion euros.
Will there be no money left for investments in 2026?
However, things will look different for 2025. According to the report, Christian Lindner’s austerity measures might make reaching the two percent mark a long way off. 52 billion euros are earmarked for German defense – 20 billion of which come from the special fund. However, according to “Bild” research, the budget would have to increase by 4.5 to 6 billion euros for the Bundeswehr to reach the limit next year.
If the planned 52 billion for 2025 remained, according to the calculations, 500 million euros would be available for new weapons and similar investments. The federal government is also planning 52 billion euros for 2026. According to the newspaper, there will no longer be room for investments.
Pistorius is negotiating with Lindner
According to “Bild”, Pistorius has already contacted Finance Minister Lindner to enter into negotiations. Chancellor Olaf Scholz wants to stick to the two percent target and rejects Lindner’s proposal to make social cuts. SPD budget expert Andreas Schwarz told the medium: “Germany is committed to its NATO allies. To achieve this, the defense budget must increase by a mid-single-digit billion amount from 2025. There will be no cuts in the social sector as counter-financing with the SPD. We never will pitting social security once morest military security.”
Ministries must make savings proposals
According to the Ministry of Finance, the individual ministries should outline their spending wishes and also make savings suggestions by April 19th. There will then likely be further political discussions in the traffic light government until the cabinet approves the draft on July 3rd. The Bundestag should then discuss the draft from September and pass it by the end of November 2024.
“It will require a joint effort by the federal government to resolve the need for action in the federal budget,” wrote Lindner in an email to the highest federal authorities regarding the 2025 budget. The Ministry of Finance also set out the course with the individual ministries at an internal government meeting on Thursday. The Ministry of Finance recently spoke of a gap in the lower double-digit billion range for the 2025 budget. The coalition must therefore raise this amount through cuts and additional revenue. According to an insider, the gap was estimated at 15 to 25 billion euros.
No specific information was provided last year regarding the medium-term financial plan until 2028. This is important because in 2028 spending on the Bundeswehr from the special fund will no longer be possible. The regular defense budget should then be significantly increased in order to be able to comply with Germany’s NATO commitments. Lindner emphasized in his letter that the values from 2027 would initially be adopted for 2028. In the further process, these should then be adjusted for special effects. This approach was agreed upon with Chancellor Scholz and Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck (Greens).
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