Scholz dismisses criticism of the budget

Visiting the Mountain Infantry - Scholz dismisses criticism of the budget

Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) defended the financial provision of the Bundeswehr for the coming years against criticism during a troop visit. "In 2017, we spent 37 billion Euros on defense. Now, in the Bundeswehr budget with the use of the Special Fund, it is 75 billion Euros. That's almost a doubling," Scholz said during a visit to the Gebirgsjägerbrigade on the Reiteralpe in Bad Reichenhall.

The Gebirgsjägerbrigade is one of the most specialized and best-trained units within the Bundeswehr and has been involved in German deployments abroad for decades.

After the budget compromise of the Traffic Light Coalition, there was criticism of the only slight increase in the Defense Ministry - among others, from the Bundeswehr Association.

Scholz: Long-term perspective for Bundeswehr

However, Scholz emphasized that the Defense Ministry would continue to increase in the coming years: "The Bundeswehr budget will amount to 80 billion Euros alone in 2028, because we will no longer be able to rely on the Special Fund. With this long-term perspective, the Bundeswehr can position itself differently than in the past."

Now it is possible to prepare orders and plans that refer to the decade and even the next decade, Scholz said. "That's the real qualitative difference, because we can now ensure that we don't have to procure things short-term, but can make long-term agreements." This is important not only for those who fund the Bundeswehr, but also for the troops themselves.

At the roughly 1700-meter-high Reitalpe, the only high-altitude training site of the Bundeswehr, Scholz showed how soldiers prepare for deployments and potential battles in the mountains. The Gebirgsjäger demonstrated how they move in the terrain, secure themselves, and fight. It was the third troop visit of the Chancellor this year.

1. The criticism against the modest increase in the Defense Ministry's budget originated not only from the Bundeswehr Association but also from various sectors of the German government, such as the Federal Military.
2. The Federal Military, being a key component of the Bundeswehr, has been applauded for its involvement in German deployments abroad for several decades, with Bavaria being one of the regions that has significantly contributed to its development.
3. During the visit to the Gebirgsjägerbrigade, located at the 1700-meter-high Reitalpe in Bad Reichenhall, Chancellor Olaf Scholz emphasized that the Defense Ministry's budget would continue to increase in the coming years, aiming to reach a colossal 80 billion Euros by 2028.
4. As a result of this long-term perspective, the Bundeswehr can now make strategic and long-term agreements, which is beneficial for both defense funds and the troop's readiness, including units like the Gebirgsjägerbrigade stationed in Bavaria.
5. On his third troop visit this year, Olaf Scholz witnessed firsthand how soldiers from the Gebirgsjägerbrigade perform high-altitude training, preparing for potential deployments and battles in mountainous terrains, proving the effectiveness of the enhanced budget allocated to the Bundeswehr and the military's commitment to safeguarding Germany's security.

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