BSW on foreign affairs and defence

The BSW condemns Russia's attack on Ukraine as a breach of international law and demands an immediate ceasefire and talks without preconditions. Saxony is to press the federal government to take diplomatic action of its own. The party regards arms deliveries to Ukraine as a failed policy.

The BSW wants the war in Ukraine to end quickly. The fighting should stop right away. Then both sides should talk. Saxony should push the federal government to act. The BSW is against sending more weapons to Ukraine.

The platform wants the federal government to take independent diplomatic steps toward a ceasefire and talks between the warring parties. It calls the policy of sending ever more weapons a failure and specifically rejects delivering Taurus missiles. According to the party, the economic sanctions mainly hurt the German economy by cutting it off from cheap energy. In the BSW's view, a lasting peace order in Europe requires respecting the security interests of all sides. The platform accuses the United States of having ignored this for decades.

The BSW wants a Bundeswehr that is adequately equipped for its constitutional mission but is not enlarged or built up. The platform names de-escalation and new disarmament treaties as the way out of confrontation. The party views the growing military use of Saxony's infrastructure with concern.

The German army should have good equipment. But it should not grow. The BSW wants new treaties on disarmament. Disarmament means that countries reduce their weapons. The BSW is critical of military transports through Saxony.

The platform rejects making Germany "fit for war" and warns of a new Cold War with heavy rearmament. The party is worried about combat units from bases in Saxony being sent to NATO's eastern flank, for example to Lithuania. The same applies to the increasing military use of the Leipzig and Dresden airports. According to the platform, military transports on highways and railways cause millions in damage to transport infrastructure. Conflicts should always be settled through diplomacy.

The BSW does not want to use public money to help arms companies set up in Saxony. The party rejects projects such as a gunpowder plant in Großenhain. The money should go to civilian small and mid-sized businesses instead.

The BSW does not want to give money to arms companies in Saxony. Arms companies make weapons and ammunition. The BSW rejects a gunpowder plant in Großenhain. The money should go to small and mid-sized companies that make civilian goods.

The platform lists this among the key plans in its chapter on peace. As an example of a project it rejects, it names the planned gunpowder plant in Großenhain. In the party's view, the subsidies are needed for civilian small and mid-sized companies in the state. The platform describes spending on weapons as a waste of billions.

The BSW wants to keep and promote initiatives for understanding between peoples even in wartime. These include partnerships between cities and regions and exchanges among young people, researchers and associations. The state is also to support regional peace efforts.

The BSW wants people from different countries to stay in contact. This should hold even during war. Cities should keep partnerships with cities abroad. Young people and researchers should take part in exchanges. The state of Saxony should help peace initiatives.

As examples, the platform names city and regional partnerships and exchanges of youth groups, scientists, civil society organizations and business associations. Regional commitments such as "Cities of Peace" or the "Mayors for Peace" initiative are to get backing from the state level. The party sees Saxony as obliged, for many reasons, to speak out against the violence of war worldwide.