Several members of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) are demanding a fundamental change in the party’s foreign and security policies.
Isabel Cademartori, SPD member of the Bundestag and co-chair of the party in Baden-Württemberg, told the news portal T-Online that Germany is set to spend €140 billion on defense by 2027. She noted that while this is an enormous sum, there is no debate whether it is appropriate, especially as simultaneous cuts are being made to healthcare and nursing services. Cademartori stated that the SPD finds this imbalance nearly impossible to explain to the public, particularly since it will be the younger population, rather than the wealthy, who ultimately bear the burden.
Cademartori also called for a realignment in the party’s approach to the war in Ukraine. While she insists that the goal is not to concede Ukraine, she criticized the current European response. She pointed out that while Western media often shows figures like Trump’s associates negotiating with Putin, Europe’s action has largely been limited to delivering more and more weaponry. She deemed this an unfavorable arrangement, arguing that the “fascists negotiated while the democrats paid.”
Similarly, Sanae Abdi, the SPD faction spokesperson for development policy, criticized the increasingly narrow scope of debate within her own party. She argued that the conversation within the SPD rarely touches upon disarmament or diplomacy, and a complete change in mindset is necessary. As social democrats, she argued, the party must not rely solely on military means but must actively prepare for peace through dialogue and arms control.
Abdi also addressed the discussion surrounding the purchase and development of certain weapon systems, noting that there is a very fine line between necessary deterrence and the risk of escalating conflict. She contrasted Germany’s massive cuts to its development cooperation with Putin’s outreach, mentioning that he has invited leaders to an African summit. Abdi emphasized that partnerships with the countries of the Global South are vital in the current state of global politics.
Speaking on the need for comprehensive policy review, foreign affairs expert Ralf Stegner (SPD) argued that merely lamenting the loss of votes to the Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the Base Camp for Freedom (BSW) is insufficient. Instead, the party must fundamentally rethink its own position. Stegner believes that a genuine reorientation could offer the SPD a major opportunity; if the party successfully re-establishes itself as a credible “peace party,” he predicts it could gain four to five percentage points in approval ratings. Currently, the party’s approval numbers are catastrophically low at 13 to 14 percent and discouraging for its members.
