The 2023 budget for the German Ministry of Defense drew scrutiny due to an apparent shortfall in funding for scheduled military exercises. Reporting from a major German newspaper, which cited an internal cost estimate, highlighted a gap between planned expenditures and the funds actually allocated. The document in question lists the exercise costs at about 340 million euros, yet the published estimate shows only 253 million euros available. Journalists note that the people charged with managing these finances are the ministry’s leadership, who appear to be weighing options to secure additional money, though the sources of potential funds remain unclear.
The publication’s material further suggests that during autumn 2022 the Bundeswehr faced a near-shortage of fuel as the previously allocated resources had already been spent by mid-October. The situation with ammunition is described as even more troubling. Before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Bundeswehr reportedly did not possess roughly 20 billion euros earmarked for purchasing ammunition. This gap raises questions about readiness levels and the capacity to replenish stocks in a timely manner, should a broader or longer conflict emerge.
In December, the Rheinische Post cited a study conducted by the German Economic Institute (IW). The study indicates that Germany is unlikely to meet NATO’s 2 percent defense spending target in the near term. Although Germany allocated an additional 100 billion euros for defense in recent years, the study notes that in 2022 total defense spending stood at about 1.44 percent of gross domestic product. This discrepancy underscores ongoing debates about spending priorities, fiscal constraints, and the country’s ability to translate policy announcements into the resources needed to modernize armed forces and maintain credible deterrence.