German defence spending faces renewed criticism amid political pressures

Moritz Schularick, president of the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW), has criticised German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius for directing procurement funds toward outdated military hardware. Schularick argued that projected defence budgets through 2030 remain excessively focused on conventional equipment, including tanks and naval frigates, rather than innovative systems required for future warfare.

Simultaneously, German authorities and political parties face a range of domestic challenges. The latest Deutschlandtrend poll indicated that the Alternative for Germany (AfD) has extended its lead over the conservative CDU/CSU bloc, alongside growing public openness toward case-by-case legislative cooperation. In addition, the Social Democratic Party is contending with internal member discontent, security agencies in Berlin are addressing expanding organised crime networks, and the farming sector continues to struggle with livestock feed shortages caused by prolonged dry weather.

Sources: Der Spiegel, Die Zeit, DW, FAZ, Tagesschau