Follow us on social

Germany's historic vote to amend constitution for defense hike

Germany's historic vote to amend constitution for defense hike

This move could reshape European security

Reporting | QiOSK

Germany’s Bundestag has voted to pass a constitutional amendment that would authorize increases in defense, infrastructure, and some foreign aid spending, financed through increased borrowing.

"The decision we are taking today... can be nothing less than the first major step towards a new European defense community,” said likely incoming chancellor Friedrich Merz. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen commented that the vote “sends a very clear message to Europe that Germany is determined to invest massively in defense."

The vote comes amid pressure from the European Community (and the Trump administration) to increase its overall defense spending and begin to wean off military dependency on Washington. Over the last several weeks, Merz and France’s Emmanuel Macron have issued a clarion call regarding this and concerning Ukraine, where they have also pledged assistance in a new “coalition of the willing.” 

Debt-averse Germany has had strict limits, currently only allowing for borrowing equal to .35% of its GDP. This new amendment cleared the two-thirds vote required in the Bundestag and would exempt any defense spending or foreign aid for countries “attacked in violation of international law” from borrowing restrictions.

In addition to loosening borrowing limits for defense spending and foreign aid, €500 billion will be earmarked for infrastructure borrowing, as stipulated by the Greens, whose votes were needed for the two-thirds majority.

"This historic breach of Germany's accustomed dread of incurring public debt is risky in terms of domestic politics," said university lecturer and research scholar Molly O'Neal, who is also a non-resident fellow at the Quincy Institute. "It was rushed through the outgoing parliament in order to frustrate the strong opposition of the AfD on the right and Die Linke on the left. These parties together will have a blocking minority in the new parliament. Viewed objectively and without panic, the relaxing of the debt brake allows Germany to meet the expectations of the U.S. and NATO on defense spending. The Germans are not likely to deploy peacekeepers in post-conflict Ukraine without a U.S. backstop guarantee."

The amendment is set for a vote in Germany’s second chamber, the Bundesrat, on Friday. At first, the outcome seemed uncertain as some regional governments voiced opposition to raising the debt limit. However, the head of Bavaria’s State Chancellery announced today that Bavaria’s six members in the Bundesrat would vote in favor of the amendment, ensuring that the measure will likely have enough votes to overcome the two-thirds majority requirement in that chamber.


Top Photo: A general view of the Parliament as German Bundestag President Baerbel Bas delivers words of commemoration on the occasion of the one-year anniversary of Hamas' October 7 attack, ahead of a session of the lower house of parliament Bundestag, in Berlin, Germany, October 10, 2024. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner
Reporting | QiOSK
Why new CENTCOM chief Brad Cooper is as wrong as the old one
Top photo credit: U.S. Navy Vice Admiral Brad Cooper speaks to guests at the IISS Manama Dialogue in Manama, Bahrain, November 17, 2023. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed

Why new CENTCOM chief Brad Cooper is as wrong as the old one

Middle East

If accounts of President Donald Trump’s decision to strike Iranian nuclear facilities this past month are to be believed, the president’s initial impulse to stay out of the Israel-Iran conflict failed to survive the prodding of hawkish advisers, chiefly U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) chief Michael Kurilla.

With Kurilla, an Iran hawk and staunch ally of both the Israeli government and erstwhile national security adviser Mike Waltz, set to leave office this summer, advocates of a more restrained foreign policy may understandably feel like they are out of the woods.

keep readingShow less
Putin Trump
Top photo credit: Vladimir Putin (Office of the President of the Russian Federation) and Donald Trump (US Southern Command photo)

How Trump's 50-day deadline threat against Putin will backfire

Europe

In the first six months of his second term, President Donald Trump has demonstrated his love for three things: deals, tariffs, and ultimatums.

He got to combine these passions during his Oval Office meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Monday. Only moments after the two leaders announced a new plan to get military aid to Ukraine, Trump issued an ominous 50-day deadline for Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to a ceasefire. “We're going to be doing secondary tariffs if we don't have a deal within 50 days,” Trump told the assembled reporters.

keep readingShow less
Trump White House reporters
U.S. President Donald Trump responds to questions from reporters on the South Lawn on July 11, 2025. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Sipa USA)

Russia sanctions & new weapons, is Trump stuck in Groundhog Day?

Europe

President Trump finds himself in a rerun of his first term on Ukraine policy. Declawed by lawmakers in D.C. and forced to push policies that worsen the U.S. relationship with Russia.

He is expected today to announce that the U.S. will be sending more advanced patriot missile batteries to Ukraine — via NATO member countries, which will be paying for it.

keep readingShow less

LATEST

QIOSK

Newsletter

Subscribe now to our weekly round-up and don't miss a beat with your favorite RS contributors and reporters, as well as staff analysis, opinion, and news promoting a positive, non-partisan vision of U.S. foreign policy.