Berlin, Germany – The Federal Minister of Defence, Boris Pistorius, has called on the Union and its faction leader, Friedrich Merz, to approve an exception to the debt brake for the Bundeswehr’s budget. According to Pistorius, the “Bild” newspaper reported, the “practically unavoidable” exception is necessary for the adequate equipping of the Bundeswehr. He has been requesting this for the past year, the minister said.
Pistorius explained that the budget of his ministry will need to double to over 100 billion euros in the coming years, due to necessary investments. “We’re talking about more than three percent of the gross domestic product. This cannot be offset by reducing other areas” he stated.
If the exception to the debt brake is not granted, it will become a burden for security, Pistorius told the “Bild”. “Above all, because we need to take on more responsibility, as the US is no longer as committed to our conventional deterrence in the Indopacific as it once was. I am glad that the CDU has shown a willingness to do so. This demonstrates a sense of responsibility” he said.