Armaments or educational crisis? Readers demand real solutions!

Armaments or educational crisis? Readers demand real solutions!

In a time when the world situation appears ever, the armor expenditure increases worldwide at a record height. The most recent report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri) shows that global military spending in 2024 grew by more than 9.4 percent to over $ 2.7 trillion-the highest increase since the end of the Cold War. Particularly alarming: Germany pushes itself into place in the international ranking of military budgets from 7th place, only behind the USA, China and Russia. The main reason for this is a newly launched special fund of 100 billion euros for the Bundeswehr, which is in full travel, while social investments are neglected in many corners. If that's not a reason to think!

Germany's arms expenditure, however, are in the shade of many pressing social challenges. In an article in the Süddeutsche Zeitung, readers are asked to question these priorities. A reader, for example, expresses that the federal government should take more care of schools and daycare centers instead of focusing on military upgrading so much. The reference to that of the state has the gross domestic product as a benchmark for government spending as misleading, many citizens affect. The general approval of the higher armor expenditure is in the air, but the critics - and there are many - warns about mindfulness in social concerns.

The voices of the citizens

Readers' letter writers are concerned about the effects of the abrupt rising armor expenditure on other important areas, such as education. The deletion of educational programs and the reduction of cultural budgets is considered harmful to social cohesion. A reader sums it up: investments in children and adolescents are indispensable for the economy and society. In a society that considers pension insurance as under pressure, the question arises as to how serious politics is with a fair compensation of all needs.

• worldwide military spending: over $ 2.7 trillion $
• Germany's place in armaments ranking: from 7th to 4th place
• increase in German military spending in 2024 by a special fund of 100 billion euros
• Records in armaments investments since the end of the Cold War
• Russia has increased its expenses by over 30 percent

But it is not just the citizens who express their concerns. Sipri director Dan Smith warns that higher military spending does not automatically lead to more security. The Ukraine conflict visibly heated up the defense efforts of European countries, but a trend reversal is not in sight. More and more countries are planning further increase in their armaments households, despite the associated risks for social programs such as development aid in Great Britain.

a balanced picture?

How these debates will develop remains to be seen. It is only clear that the balance between security and social investments in society will be put to the test again. What remains to be done? One thing is clear: it takes both an open dialogue and political determination to get out of this dilemma and to offer citizens both security and a future worth living.

For further details on the current developments in the armaments debate and the opinions of the readers, see the articles of Süddeutsche , Tagesschau and Weltwoche .