Germany’s Defense Minister Calls for Increased Budget
Germany’s defense minister, Boris Pistorius, wants the country to spend more on its military. He thinks this is necessary because of Russia’s actions.
Pistorius said Germany needs a budget of at least 80 billion euros (around $90 billion) per year from 2028 onwards. This would be an increase from what they are spending now. The minister believes this extra money will help prepare the country for any future threats.
Germany is concerned about Russia’s actions, especially if President Putin were to attack another country. Pistorius thinks Germany needs a strong military to protect itself and others in the region.
He also wants to reform a rule that limits how much money the government can spend on things like defense. This rule is known as the debt brake. Pistorius believes this rule should be changed so that the government can afford to spend more on its military.
Germany has a special role in NATO, which is a group of countries working together for peace and security. As one of the largest members of NATO, Germany feels it must contribute more to the group’s efforts.
Pistorius said German soldiers might be sent to Ukraine if there was a need to enforce a ceasefire between the government and Russian-backed groups. However, he made it clear that no German soldiers would be deployed to fight in Ukraine as long as the war is ongoing.