BSW on foreign affairs and defence

The BSW condemns Russia's attack on Ukraine but calls for an immediate ceasefire and negotiations without preconditions. The federal government should take its own diplomatic initiative to that end. In the party's view, arms deliveries have failed and sanctions mainly hurt the German economy.

The BSW wants the war in Ukraine to end soon. The fighting should stop right away. Then both sides should talk. The German government should help with this. The BSW thinks sending weapons is wrong.

The program calls Russia's attack a violation of international law, but argues that a lasting peace order in Europe is only possible if the security interests of all sides are respected. It says the US, as NATO's leading power, ignored these for decades. The BSW wants to use Thuringia's voice to push the federal government to work independently toward a ceasefire and talks. The party opposes further arms deliveries, including Taurus missiles, and sees the economic sanctions as harmful to Germany. It expects leading media, including in Thuringia, to report on all causes of the war in a balanced way.

The BSW wants the Bundeswehr (German armed forces) properly equipped but opposes enlarging it or arming up. Instead of confrontation, the party calls for de-escalation, new disarmament treaties and shared security in Europe. It views the deployment of combat units to NATO's eastern flank with concern.

The BSW wants a well-equipped German army. But the army should not grow bigger. The BSW wants fewer weapons in Europe. New treaties should help with that. Countries should work together for security.

The Bundeswehr should be able to fulfill its constitutional mission. In the program's view, the arms spiral wastes billions, and the only way out is de-escalation and disarmament. The BSW criticizes sending combat troops to places like Lithuania, as well as military transports on Thuringia's roads and railways, which it says cause damage worth millions. It cites German history and peaceful reunification as an obligation to pursue diplomacy.

The BSW opposes what it sees as a creeping militarization of schools. The Bundeswehr should not recruit young people at Thuringia's schools, since it has its own information centers. There should be no military or civil defense lessons in schools.

The BSW wants the army out of schools. The army should not recruit young people there. The army has its own advice centers for that. There should also be no lessons about war and defense.

According to the program, suitable Bundeswehr information centers outside schools are available. In the BSW's view, new lessons on military or civil defense do not belong in schools. The party sets this against the goal of making the country ready for war.