CDU on foreign affairs and defence

The CDU wants Berlin to host modern air defense systems under the European Sky Shield Initiative and, as the capital, to get its own protective shield. In addition, a home defense regiment should protect vital infrastructure in crises.

The CDU wants to protect Berlin from air attacks. Modern defense systems should come to the city. This is part of a European plan. There should also be a home defense unit. It should protect important facilities.

The European Sky Shield Initiative is a European project for joint air defense. Berlin is to become a site for such systems. A home defense regiment is to secure infrastructure in times of crisis and war.

The CDU wants to abolish the civil clause at Berlin universities so that research can also serve the security interests of Germany and NATO. The Bundeswehr (German armed forces) should become more visible in Berlin, for example through public swearing-in ceremonies and youth officers visiting schools.

Some universities do no research for the military. This rule is called the civil clause. The CDU wants to remove it. The army should be more visible in Berlin. State workers should join reserve training more easily.

Universities and the Bundeswehr are to cooperate more closely. The Bundeswehr should get suitable properties, help with recruiting reservists and more recognition through public swearing-in ceremonies. State employees should be able to take part in reserve exercises for up to 30 working days a year. Assigned reservists should in future be eligible for the fire service and disaster protection decoration.

The CDU wants Berlin to capture a much larger share of nationwide investment in security and defense innovation. To that end, universities and research institutes are to open up to research with both civilian and military uses.

Germany spends a lot on defense. Berlin should get more of that money. Universities should also do research the military can use. This is called dual-use.

The start-up scene is to be used to open up new fields of innovation in security and defense. Openness to dual-use research is to be part of the planned start-up and innovation pact. Dual-use refers to technology that can serve both civilian and military purposes.

The CDU wants to keep supporting Ukraine because, in its view, Ukraine is also defending Germany's freedom and security. Sister-city ties with Kyiv, Tel Aviv and Warsaw and cooperation with Poland are to be deepened. Berlin is also to open more offices abroad together with Brandenburg.

The CDU wants to keep helping Ukraine. The CDU says Ukraine also protects our freedom. Berlin has partner cities like Kyiv and Tel Aviv. These ties should grow stronger. Berlin should have more offices abroad. They help companies trade.

Poland is seen as a key partner, for instance through the Oder Partnership. With Tel Aviv, cooperation in high tech, culture, education and science is to be promoted, given Berlin's historical responsibility. Berlin could learn from Kyiv on security and resilience. Besides New York and Bengaluru, offices are to open in growth regions such as the US West Coast, Istanbul, Dubai, Singapore or Tokyo, run jointly with Brandenburg in the future.