German Finance Minister Denies Extra Defence Funds Amidst Coalition Tensions

Germany's Finance Minister Christian Lindner has announced that no additional funds beyond the agreed budget will be allocated to modernize the armed forces, despite appeals from Defence Minister Boris Pistorius. Lindner emphasized fiscal discipline within Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition, which has caused internal disagreements.

Germany's Finance Minister, Christian Lindner, has firmly denied the Defence Minister's plea for additional funds to modernize the armed forces beyond the already agreed coalition budget. In an upcoming ARD public television interview, Lindner highlighted the 100-billion-euro special fund available for defence, stating it was unprecedented and sufficient.

Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, responsible for reversing years of military underfunding heightened by Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, expressed disappointment with the allocated funds. However, Lindner called these complaints unjustified, urging better management of the existing resources.

As the leader of the liberal Free Democrats, Lindner sees his role in Chancellor Olaf Scholz's three-party coalition as upholding fiscal discipline. Despite Germany's low debt-to-GDP ratio within the G7, the International Monetary Fund indicated inadequate public infrastructure investment as a factor in the country's sluggish economic growth.

(With inputs from agencies.)