“Ten Billion Euros More?” – Pistorius Reportedly Aims to Significantly Increase the Defense Budget

„Zehn Milliarden Euro mehr?“ – Pistorius will Verteidigungsetat offenbar deutlich erhöhen

Just days after the formation of the new government, leaks have emerged regarding Defense Minister Boris Pistorius's demands in the drafting of the 2025 federal budget. According to confidential sources cited by Tagesspiegel, Pistorius has asked the coalition to allocate more than €60 billion to defense in 2025, roughly €10 billion more than the €53 billion previously planned under the SPD-Greens-FDP government. The SPD minister aims to address the well-known capability gaps of the Bundeswehr after decades of underfunding. The additional funds would serve to accelerate the procurement of ammunition, modern weapons, and to strengthen troop readiness. Pistorius reportedly wants this increase to be locked in not just for 2025, but permanently, via multi-year planning. Government officials confirm the direction (“the information points the right way,” said a senior source) but acknowledge that how to spend these extra funds effectively remains unresolved. Last year alone, the Ministry of Defense failed to fully use its €52 billion budget due to bureaucratic delays and industrial bottlenecks, struggling even to meet NATO's 2% GDP target. Pistorius is determined to reverse this trend, but his request is constrained by the balanced budget rule (Schuldenbremse) and resistance within coalition partners. The outcome will depend on the final version of the federal budget: even if he does not secure the full €10 billion, the political will to shift fiscal priorities toward defense is clearly established, marking a significant change from previous years.