Defense: Military editions: Greens call WadePhul’s advance “Naiv”

In the opposition, the claim of Foreign Minister Johann WadePhul (CDU) is criticized after an increase in military expenditure to five percent of the economic output. The Greens warn of a pandering to US President Donald Trump and initially require solid planning based on the plans that are to be decided at the NATO summit in June. On Thursday, party leader Lars Klingbeil and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius had already commented on the SPD as coalition partner of the Union on Thursday.

“It seems a bit naive when Foreign Minister WadePhul thinks that he can pedge with President Trump by throwing as large numbers as possible and beyond the coalition agreement,” said Green Group Vice Agnieszka Brugger of the “Stuttgarter Zeitung” and the “Stuttgarter Nachrichten”. “Instead, a solid planning is needed based on NATO’s modernized defense plans, which will be decided on the summit in a few weeks.”

Foreign Minister WadePhul had joined up to five percent of economic output on Thursday for a strong increase in defense spending. Trump’s assessment is followed that this is necessary, the CDU politician said at a NATO foreign ministerial meeting in Turkey. Not only the opposition, but also the coalition partner SPD was obviously surprised by the statements.

Klingbeil and Pistorius also refer to NATO goals

SPD boss Lars Klingbeil emphasized in Berlin that the coalition agreement had agreed that one would adhere to the NATO capacity goals. The decision is made at the NATO summit. “And then Germany will adhere to this appointment,” said the new finance minister. He advised everyone in the coalition to orientate themselves on the coalition agreement.

Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) said in the evening: “The decisive factor is the percentage. It is crucial that the NATO capability goals, which are then also determined, are fulfilled quickly, comprehensively and in time.” Of course, over three percent or more will be talked in the end.

Merz names Percentage Names “auxiliary construction”

Chancellor Friedrich Merz tried to slow down the debate in the evening. “This discussion about GDP percentages is an auxiliary structure to have guidelines in which direction we go with the armament of the armed forces,” said the CDU boss in the ZDF talk show “Maybrit Illner”.

Instead, it should be more about the concrete military skills: “We have to develop the ability to defend the European continent out of our own.” Merz did not respond to Trump’s five percent demand, not even on Wadephul.

Left -wing chief speaks of “madness”

The left, on the other hand, practiced sharp criticism of WadePhul. “This is total madness, who should pay for it? Even if you put the debt brake for it – at some point someone has to pay for it,” party leader Jan van Aken told the editorial network Germany (RND). For a pure EU and national defense, this does not need a lot of money, and it would be the summit of injustice if there was no money for care, education and streets in the end and of all things, the poorest would have to pay for WadePhul to implement Trump’s demands.

The NATO goal for defense expenditure currently provides annual expenditure of at least two percent of gross domestic product. Germany narrowly reached it in 2024 – states such as Italy, Spain, Belgium and Luxembourg were still far from until the end.