Kiel Institute head criticises German defense investment choices
IfW President Moritz Schularick has criticized Defense Minister Boris Pistorius for funding conventional weapons instead of future tech amid political shifts in Germany.
Moritz Schularick, president of the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW), has criticized German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius for allocating military procurement funds through 2030 toward traditional hardware like tanks and frigates rather than next-generation technologies. Schularick urged a strategic pivot toward future weapon systems to ensure effective modernization.
The debate over military spending coincides with shifting political dynamics across Germany. A recent Deutschlandtrend poll showed the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party widening its lead over the main opposition CDU/CSU bloc, alongside growing public openness toward case-by-case cooperation. Meanwhile, national media reports continue to examine historical defense sector compliance issues, including past scandals over illegal exports and bribery.
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 — Skandale der Rüstungsindustrie: Deutsche Waffen für die Welt
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