German defence minister faces renewed criticism over military spending priorities
Leading economist Moritz Schularick has criticized German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius for prioritizing legacy military hardware over next-generation systems.
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius continues to face criticism over the military modernization roadmap of the Bundeswehr. Moritz Schularick, president of the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW), stated that planned defence spending through 2030 overly prioritizes traditional platforms, such as battle tanks and naval frigates, rather than modern capabilities and next-generation weapons.
The debate coincides with heightened domestic focus on security vulnerabilities following a recent drone-related incident in Leipzig, as well as shifting electoral dynamics. A fresh Deutschlandtrend survey showed the Alternative for Germany (AfD) widening its polling advantage over the centre-right CDU/CSU alliance, amid growing public backing for case-by-case legislative cooperation with the party.
Sources: Der Spiegel, Die Zeit, DW, FAZ, Tagesschau
Sources
- DW — Deutschlandtrend: AfD vergrößert Vorsprung vor der Union
- Die Zeit — Verteidigung: Führender IfW-Ökonom kritisiert deutsche Rüstung
- FAZ — Deutschland-Liveblog: IfW-Präsident wirft Pistorius falsche Investitionen vor
- Tagesschau — IfW-Präsident wirft Pistorius falsche Investitionen in Bundeswehr vor
- Der Spiegel — News: Dürre und Gemüsepreise, Schutz vor Drohnen, Deutschlands Top-Rating wackelt
Earlier coverage
- Oct 16, 2026, 04:00 AM UTCBerlin parliament shrinks after vote transmission error shifts mandate to AfD
- Oct 14, 2026, 11:00 PM UTCBerlin parliament shrinks after vote transmission error shifts seat to AfD
- Oct 14, 2026, 11:00 AM UTCBerlin recount shifts state seat to AfD following transmission error
- Oct 14, 2026, 05:00 AM UTCBerlin election recount shifts mandate to AfD amid changing voter trends
- Oct 13, 2026, 05:00 AM UTCBerlin election recount shifts seat to AfD and reduces parliament size
- Oct 12, 2026, 05:00 AM UTCBerlin parliament shrinks after election counting error reassigns seat
- Oct 11, 2026, 11:00 PM UTCBerlin election result adjusted after seat recount and demographic study
- Oct 11, 2026, 05:00 PM UTCBerlin parliament shrinks after vote correction as election trends emerge
- Oct 11, 2026, 11:00 AM UTCRecount and voter demographic insights follow Berlin state election
- Oct 10, 2026, 11:00 PM UTCBerlin election analyses highlight youth trends and seat recalculation