As of: February 17, 2024, 8:15 a.m
By: Tadhg Nagel
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Annalena Baerbock is calling for higher special assets.
Security has “its price”.
Defense Minister Pistorius, however, has a different opinion.
Berlin - Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) would like to increase the Bundeswehr's special assets, as she demanded in the run-up to the Munich Security Conference.
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) recently expressed skepticism about an increase.
“It is clear that the current special fund will not be sufficient for this, but must be significantly increased in the future,” said Baerbock on Thursday (February 15).
Investments in the “generational project of the European Security and Defense Union” should not be made dependent on “one-year budgets and the debt brake”.
Security has “its price” - Baerbock calls for an increase in the Bundeswehr's special funds
Security has “its price” and regardless of who is in power in the USA, it is clear that there is a need for a “security and defense union” that “strengthens the European pillar in NATO”.
Donald Trump's statement that in a second term he would only support those NATO countries that meet the two percent target fueled the debate about higher long-term defense spending.
Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) is calling for an increase in the Bundeswehr's special funds.
(Archive photo) © IMAGO/Bernd Elmenthaler
The CDU defense politician Roderich Kiesewetter also spoke out this week in favor of increasing the Bundeswehr's special funds and brought an increase from 100 to 300 billion euros into play.
This sum is necessary so that “the Bundeswehr becomes fit for war,” the CDU politician told the
Süddeutsche Zeitung
on Tuesday (February 13) .
Pistorius favors higher defense budget - For a Bundeswehr “on solid financial footing”
The situation is different for Defense Minister Pistorius (SPD). Although he is happy about “any proposal that helps ensure that defense spending is estimated sensibly and appropriately,” the SPD politician told the on Wednesday (February 14).
Editorial network Germany
.
Another special fund is “a variant of this – but not my favourite”.
Pistorius instead called for an increase in the defense budget in the regular federal budget.
For “our security” we need “a Bundeswehr that is on solid financial footing in the long term”.
A special fund enshrined in the constitution has the advantage that a fixed amount is available for equipment, weapons and ammunition for a certain period of time.
However, inflation weakens the spending that is actually possible.
In addition, the special fund cannot be used for maintenance, upkeep, repairs and training.
(tpn)