Reuters: Germany’s Pistorius seeks major defence budget hike from 2025

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius is pushing for a significant increase in the country’s annual defence budget, according to two sources familiar with the matter.

One of the sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Pistorius is aiming for the budget to exceed €60 billion (over $68 billion) starting in 2025, Caliber.Az reports via Reuters.

To recall, since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Germany has enacted a significant overhaul of its defence policy, marking a departure from decades of military restraint. In a pivotal moment, Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced a €100 billion special fund to modernize the Bundeswehr, Germany's armed forces, and committed to meeting NATO's defence spending target of 2% of GDP—a goal Germany achieved for the first time in 2024.

Germany's rearmament strategy includes investments in advanced military equipment such as Eurofighter Typhoon jets, CH-47F Chinook helicopters, Leopard 2 tanks, and Patriot missile defence systems. Additionally, Germany has emerged as Ukraine's largest European military supporter, providing over €17 billion in aid, including air defence systems and armoured vehicles.

Despite these advancements, challenges persist. The €100 billion special fund is projected to be depleted by 2027, and long-term budget planning remains uncertain, raising concerns about the sustainability of Germany's defence commitments.

Nevertheless, under Chancellor Friedrich Merz's leadership, Germany is poised to solidify its role as a central pillar of European security to reduce reliance on U.S. military support and strengthen NATO's collective defence capabilities.

By Aghakazim Guliyev