To prioritize defense, Germany to cut development aid – DW – 06/30/2025
Germany is ramping up defense spending — while cutting funds for development cooperation. Aid organizations warn of the consequences for millions of people in a world beset by wars and crises.
Germany's draft federal budget for 2025 includes sweeping cuts. The Economic Cooperation and Development Ministry (BMZ) is set to receive €10.3 billion ($12.1 billion) — nearly a €1 billion less than in 2024. It's the second consecutive year that the budget has been reduced.
A glance back at 2022 underscores the scale of the decline: At that time, Germany was still spending €13.8 billion on development aid.
Michael Herbst, chair of the umbrella organization VENRO, which represents about 140 development NGOs in Germany, illustrated the human cost of these dramatic cuts amid growing global conflict. "More than 100 million people are displaced," Herbst said. "At the same time, more and more donor countries are pulling back." That's why, he said, Germany needs to ensure stable funding for development cooperation and humanitarian aid. But the opposite is occurring.
Germany's cuts come at a time when US President Donald Trump, early in his second term, has also initiated deep reductions in development aid, reportedly slashing about 80% of funding.
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The North Atlantic Treaty Organization agreed at its recent summit on June 25, 2025, that each NATO member state should spend 5% of its gross domestic product on defense annually.
Against this backdrop, the global decline in development aid stands out all the more. The consequences are already becoming clear, especially in the field of humanitarian assistance.
The United States has completely withdrawn its support for the UN-administered relief fund. Faced with sweeping international cutbacks, emergency aid coordinator Tom Fletcher says he is being forced to shut down numerous programs for the world's poorest.
Weeks ago, Fletcher warned that the impact on people in need and suffering from hunger would be devastating. Instead of the originally projected $44 billion, Fletcher now expects just $29 billion to be available for distributing food, water, medicine, shelter, and other essential aid.
Fletcher said the reduced funding would enable 114 million people to be reached — down from the 180 million originally planned.
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Because of the sharp reduction in the BMZ budget, Germany's official development assistance ratio fell below its self-imposed goal of 0.7% of gross national income in 2024. It had consistently remained above that threshold since 2020.
Humanitarian emergency aid is being slashed by 53%, to about €1 billion. VENRO chair, Herbst, says the move is short-sighted: "As the world's third-largest economy, Germany can and must take responsibility here. It cannot continue cutting budgets in these areas." However, his push for a reversal was unsuccessful.
As an export-driven nation, Germany depends on strong international ties and global stability. "The German economy benefits from a solid reputation and reliable relationships in countries of the Global South. That helps secure jobs here at home, as well," Herbst points out.
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The NGOs Welthungerhilfe and Terre des Hommes give the federal government a poor overall assessment. However, the coalition agreement between the governing center-right Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) and center-left Social Democratic Party describes the cuts to development and humanitarian aid as "appropriate."
In response, the aid organizations counter: "That contradicts the government's own stated goal of ensuring sustainable humanitarian funding — especially at a time when other donor countries are pulling out."
All the same, Development Minister Reem Alabali Radovan, a Social Democrat, said Germany remained committed to its global responsibilities — "despite painful budgetary constraints on development spending imposed by the coalition agreement."While you're here: Every Tuesday, DW editors round up what is happening in German politics and society. You can sign up here for the weekly email newsletter, Berlin Briefing.
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