Germany Advances Defense Spending Plan Amid Recruitment Challenges

The Bundestag prepares to vote on a constitutional amendment to fund expanded military and security initiatives as public skepticism and debate over militarization grow.

• The German government seeks to exempt defense spending exceeding 1% of GDP from the debt brake, with funding also allocated for civil protection, intelligence, and IT security.
• A parliamentary vote on a constitutional amendment to enable these changes is scheduled for Tuesday, reflecting the government's commitment to bolstering national and European security.
• Public opinion remains divided, with only 17% of Germans willing to defend the country militarily, raising concerns about recruitment and retention in the Bundeswehr.
• Critics argue the increased spending could signal ambitions beyond defense, with fears of a shift toward offensive militarization in Europe.
• The Bundeswehr faces significant attrition, with one in four recruits leaving within the first six months due to health, family, and mismatched expectations.

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