SPD politicians are voicing strong opposition to the proposed cuts in development aid funding. A recent position paper from the “Seeheimer Kreis” reported by the “Spiegel”, notes that the value of international development cooperation has been questioned at a level not seen before. Johann Saathoff, an SPD Member of Parliament and State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic and Climate Action (BMZ), warns that the “disastrous consequences” of the US withdrawal from international cooperation are becoming increasingly apparent.
Amid domestic budget pressures, the group emphasizes the need to clearly justify the strategic importance of development cooperation. According to the Seeheimer Kreis, more than 50 of the 120 SPD parliamentarians are aligned with the conservative political current.
The financial data reveals significant cuts: the BMZ budget was reduced by €910 million in 2025, bringing the total down to €10.31 billion. When combining this with roughly €15 billion from other departments, the total budget size nearly matches that of the Federal Transport Ministry.
However, the paper points out a wider disparity. Research from the polling firm Pollytix suggests that the general public significantly overestimates the required spending. On average, citizens assume that 12 percent of the gross domestic product should be allocated to development aid, whereas the actual spending is only 0.56%. For reference, the OECD target benchmark is set at 0.7%.
Ultimately, the Seeheimer Kreis cautions that the issue is not about endorsing “blanket extra spending”. Instead, they advocate for establishing clear priorities, enhancing effectiveness, and deploying existing resources with purpose. They assert that policymakers must consider the necessary synergy between national responsibility and German strategic interests.