Habeck Pushes for Major Defense Budget Increase Despite Criticism

The German Vice Chancellor proposes raising defense spending to 3.5% of GDP, facing resistance from Chancellor Scholz and other political leaders.

German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck has proposed increasing defense spending to 3.5% of GDP, citing the need for greater security investment amid ongoing geopolitical threats.
Habeck criticized previous governments for underfunding the Bundeswehr, arguing that the current special defense fund will soon be depleted.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz dismissed the plan as 'ill-conceived,' questioning both its feasibility and the source of funding for such a significant increase.
Habeck suggested financing the proposed defense budget through new loans, urging changes to Germany's constitutional debt brake to prioritize national security.
The debate coincides with incoming U.S. President Donald Trump's call for NATO members to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP, a demand widely rejected by German politicians as unrealistic.