Defense: Greens call WadePhul’s statement about defense costs “naive”

The opposition criticizes the testimony of Foreign Minister Johann WadePhul (CDU) by increasing defense 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 what should be decided at the NATO summit in June. On Thursday, party leader Lars Klingbeil and Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius, on the part of the SPD as a coalition partner.

“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. According to a proposal by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, classic military spending of 3.5 percent of gross domestic product and 1.5 percent for infrastructure, which can also be used militarily – should be taken into account according to a proposal by NATO General Secretary Mark Rutte.

Not only the opposition, but also the coalition partner SPD was obviously surprised by WadePhul’s statements.

Klingbeil and Pistorius also refer to NATO goals

SPD boss 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.

Union faction leader Jens Spahn (CDU) said “Bild”: If the NATO summit “sets a new goal for the amount of defense spending, this will be the binding state for us”. He added: “This is how it has been agreed, and so the Foreign Minister’s statement is to be understood.”

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.

However, the military upgrading of the infrastructure included in the five percent would have at least partially benefited a civilian benefit for which costs otherwise otherwise.

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.