Germany holds elections on February 23, with its army's battle-readiness less than when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022 - a precarious position as Europe faces a new geopolitical era under U.S. President Donald Trump read more .
The conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) led by Friedrich Merz are expected to win, but there are wide divisions between some parties on defence. Here is a summary of parties' plans for the armed forces and for German policy on the conflict in Ukraine.
CDU/CSU
* Help Europe defend itself but anchor it firmly in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)
* Defence spending at least 2% of gross domestic product (GDP), the current NATO target
* Re-introduce military service, which was suspended under a previous CDU government in 2011
* Create an internal market in the European Union for defence goods with common export rules
* Streamline defence procurement processes
* Merz conditionally supports equipping Ukraine with longer-range Taurus missiles, a step the current government has not taken, but there is no explicit commitment in the manifesto
SPD
* Defence spending at minimum 2% of GDP
* Modernise the armed forces
* Leader Olaf Scholz in 2022 launched the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI) of joint procurement for air defence. It was opposed by France
* Station U.S. medium-range weapons in Germany, a move strongly opposed by Russia
* Develop Germany further as a hub for NATO logistics
* Station a German brigade permanently on NATO's eastern flank in Lithuania
* Introduce voluntary military service
* Maintain diplomatic, military, financial and humanitarian support for Ukraine, and support a bilateral security agreement signed in 2024
* Send military aid to Ukraine with a policy of "prudence and judgment" but make sure Germany does not become a party to conflict with Russia
* Do not equip Ukraine with Taurus missiles
* Establish a European defence union, with joint procurement, manoeuvres and standardised training
GREENS
* Germany and Europe to take greater responsibility for their own security
* Lift military spending beyond 2% of GDP through more state borrowing. Leader Robert Habeck has suggested 3.5%
* Voluntary military service
* Streamline European defence through joint development, production and procurement
* Equip Ukraine with Taurus missiles, though the manifesto does not make an explicit commitment
FDP
* Germany and Europe to take greater responsibility for their own security
* Defence spending at least 2% of GDP but raise it if NATO lifts its target
* Explicit manifesto equipment for immediate delivery of Taurus missiles to Ukraine
* Make Germany's military the strongest conventional armed forces in Europe
* Improve funding and equipment for the military, with attractive salaries and benefits
* Reject re-introduction of general conscription but maintain a professional volunteer army
* Keep a national database of men and women fit for military service
AFD
* Prioritise national sovereignty over EU centralisation
* Re-introduce compulsory military service
* German military be run on traditions and "German values"
* Immediately lift sanctions on Russia
* Halt arms deliveries to Ukraine
* Keep Ukraine a neutral state outside of the EU and NATO
* Reject the eastern expansion of the EU and NATO
BSW
* Against Germany meeting NATO's 2% spending target or higher
* No use of special funds or more state borrowing to fund the army
* No re-introduction of conscription
* Go for immediate ceasefire in Ukraine without pre-conditions
* No more taxpayer money for weapons to Ukraine
* Reject the use of military force to solve conflicts
* Create a European security structure that includes Russia
* Stop stationing nuclear weapons in Germany
