Germany divided over record $107B defense spending

BERLIN

The German government’s decision to create a €100 billion ($107 billion) special fund for military armament has sparked a debate in the country.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s ambitious plan has received the backing of main opposition Christian Democrats, but other opposition parties, anti-war groups and peace activists are heavily criticizing the move.

The Left Party has slammed the government’s policy and proposed an alternative plan on Tuesday to invest €100 billion to address social inequalities, provide more affordable housing, and improve health services and education system.

“2.5 million children live in poverty in Germany. The promised basic security for children has not come, nor is there any prospect of it – there is no money for that, but €100 billion for armaments? This is unacceptable,” the Left Party’s parliamentary group co-leader Amira Mohamed Ali said in a statement.

Scholz’s coalition government decided to boost defense spending after Russia’s military attack on Ukraine, and reached an agreement this week with the main opposition CDU/CSU bloc for the necessary constitutional and legal amendments.

The government is planning to purchase billions worth of US-made arms and equipment, including F-35 stealth fighter jets and heavy transport helicopters, according to local media reports. Germany’s military, the Bundeswehr, will also purchase Heron TP armed drones from Israel.

Catholic peace movement Pax Christi has also criticized the government’s plan for record defense spending, and said that it “is as a step in the wrong direction.”

The group said in a statement that increasing military spending in a massive way would “not create any security,” but would rather divert attention away from the real challenges, and cut necessary funding for social justice, education and climate protection.