Following a recent decision by the German Federal Cabinet to expedite procurement processes for the Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces), Saxony’s Minister President Michael Kretschmer (CDU) has called on the federal government to ensure that eastern German states benefit substantially from these accelerated acquisitions.
Speaking to the “Rheinische Post” newspaper, Kretschmer emphasized the necessity of production within eastern Germany, stating that ensuring a significant portion of the procurement occurs locally is critical for the region. He cautioned that this outcome is not guaranteed and requires a deliberate policy decision at the federal level.
Currently, major German defense contractors are headquartered primarily in western Germany. Kretschmer asserted that the Federal Ministry of Defence has a crucial role to play in addressing this imbalance and indicated that he and other eastern German state premiers intend to discuss the matter with the Federal Chancellor.
The newly approved legislation, now entering the parliamentary process, aims to streamline the planning and acquisition of military equipment for the Bundeswehr. It represents a significant effort to address perceived bottlenecks in the procurement system.