Germans Overwhelmingly Back Scholz’s Military Spending Splurge
- Poll shows more than three quarters support huge policy shift
- Citizens also change tack on weapons deliveries to Ukraine
German soldiers prepare self-propelled howitzers for transport, in Munster, Germany.
Photographer: Sean Gallup/Getty Images
An overwhelming majority of Germans back the government’s decisions to massively increase military spending and supply Ukraine with weapons to fend off Russia’s invasion, according to a new opinion poll.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced Sunday that Germany will establish a 100 billion-euro ($111 billion) fund for defense outlays and pledged to lift military spending to a NATO goal of at least 2% of gross domestic product starting this year. The government also reversed a long-held policy of not sending weapons to conflict zones and agreed to provide Ukraine with equipment including anti-tank systems and surface-to-air missiles.