Germany to change constitution for $110 billion defense fund

• 

The German finance ministry announced on Sunday that it has decided to amend its constitution to allow for a credit-based special defense fund of €100 billion ($107.35 billion) proposed after Russia commenced its military action in Ukraine.

Germany's center-right opposition and the ruling coalition, which includes the center-left Social Democrats (SPD), Greens, and pro-business Free Democrats (FDP), announced that they had obtained the requisite two-thirds majority to exclude the defense fund from a constitutional debt brake.

Negotiations were headed by FDP leader Christian Lindner, SPD Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht, Greens leader Annalena Baerbock, and opposition vice whip Mathias Middelberg, according to persons familiar with the situation.

The funds will be utilized over several years to supplement Germany's annual defense budget of roughly €50 billion, allowing the country to reach the NATO aim of spending 2% of its GDP on defense each year.

Rebuilding the military

Germany faces several challenges, including antiquated equipment, a terrible administration, and disgruntled soldiers.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz recently announced a special budget of €100 billion for the military, prompting questions about how this money will be used and whether other vital industries will suffer as a result. Since then, Germany's armaments industry has been buzzing about the government's impending spending spree.

Some 600 public figures including politicians, religious figures, and artists signed an online appeal last week slamming what they called an "arms race", and warned that the spending will lead to cuts in other sectors.