By Andreas Killer
BERLIN (Dow Jones) — After Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) made the plea for an increase in defense spending, government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit emphasized that Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) also wanted a “good and powerful Bundeswehr” that “does its job justice can be”. That’s what Lindner said, “that’s how the chancellor sees it, and I think that’s how the entire federal government sees it too.” If the situation changes, you also have to review positions, but that now has to be “discussed carefully with one another”.
Treasury spokesman Nodjinan Niminde-Dundadengar confirmed that, in Lindner’s opinion, the Bundeswehr must be equipped in such a way that it can fulfill its mission. “This includes a willingness to increase defense spending compared to the previous federal government’s plans,” he emphasized. In addition, he refers to the ongoing budget talks.
The evening before, Lindner had raised the issue of defense spending on the ARD program “Maischberger”. “Declining defense spending is no longer timely,” the finance minister said. “I am concerned that we have neglected the Bundeswehr so much in the past that it cannot fully do its job. And that is why there must be a Zsur.” The government will now talk to the Bundestag, the budget legislator, about “the fact that the funds for the Bundeswehr must be increased”.
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(END) Dow Jones Newswires
February 25, 2022 07:50 ET (12:50 GMT)