At the opening of the Munich Security Conference an unlikely coalition has emerged to push for more development funding. SPD’s Reem Alabali‑Radovan backs a joint letter by former Defence Minister and Konrad‑Adenauer Stiftung chair Annegret Kramp‑Karrenbauer (CDU) and former Development Minister Gerd Müller (CSU). The three call for a larger share of the German budget for development aid and argue that “security is more than just armaments”.
Alabali‑Radovan told “Stern” that “our shared political task is to strengthen development policy”. She echoed Müller’s and Kramp‑Karrenbauer’s argument that real security is built where crises are prevented through development, stable institutions and partnerships. “Therefore development, diplomacy and defence are strategically linked” she added.
In the letter, Kramp‑Karrenbauer, Müller and economist Moritz Schularick critique Germany’s shrinking aid budget. They assert that the country must either invest in prevention, stabilisation and new strategic partnerships and tie the reforms to mutual benefit, or risk handing the field over to other actors in an increasingly insecure world. They warn that Germany’s “soft power” in aid grants a strategic advantage that should not be surrendered.
Müller expressed deep concern over the recent cuts to the aid budget, noting that further reductions could come in 2026. “This also weakens security worldwide, so we should not retreat” he said.