PdF on foreign affairs and defence

The PdF wants to keep a values-based foreign policy but give German and European interests more weight. Germany is to become more self-sufficient in key areas such as energy, armaments, and communications technology.

The PdF wants a foreign policy based on values. But German and European interests should count more. Germany should rely more on itself for energy, weapons, and communications technology. That way it depends less on authoritarian states.

The platform describes a pragmatic, consistent, and transparent course meant to safeguard peace and national sovereignty. Values should not be pursued at any cost but weighed against interests. Greater self-reliance in energy, armaments, and communications technology is meant to cut dependence on authoritarian states and on economic blocs the platform calls hostile. At the same time, the PdF commits to global cooperation and to active work in international organizations.

The PdF wants Germany to play an active part in the United Nations and wants its structures reformed. The veto in the Security Council is to be changed, and the UN is to gain more authority in some cross-border fields.

The PdF wants to make the United Nations stronger. The short name is UN. The veto in the Security Council should change. With a veto, one country can stop a decision. The UN should also decide more, for example on climate.

Reforming the veto is meant to make the UN better able to act. The organization is to receive more powers over international waters, climate, outer space, and effects that cross national borders. The platform also points to German participation in peacekeeping missions, work in the Security Council, and contributions to global initiatives such as climate protection.

The PdF sees NATO as the core of German defense. Germany is to spend two percent of its economic output on defense and play an important role in the alliance.

NATO is a defense alliance. The PdF thinks NATO is very important. Germany should spend 2 percent of its economic output on defense. Germany should also keep taking part in exercises and missions.

The platform calls on Germany to honor its financial pledges to the alliance. Germany is to keep taking part in NATO exercises and missions. It is also to play a significant role in collective defense and in the alliance's nuclear deterrence.

The PdF wants worldwide relief for natural disasters and humanitarian crises to be more closely coordinated. This is to be achieved through a UN-coordinated network, stronger local structures, and projects designed for the long term.

The PdF wants to improve help after disasters. Aid groups around the world should work together. The United Nations should lead this. Local helpers should get money and technology. The help should also work in the long run.

The plan includes uniform global emergency plans, platforms for real-time information sharing, and adaptable procedures for different kinds of disasters. Local aid organizations are to receive direct funding and technical support, and regional emergency centers are to be set up and work with communities. The public and responders are to be trained in preparedness, first aid, and evacuation. For the long term, the platform relies on infrastructure such as water supply, sewage, and roads, on national climate adaptation plans, and on reforestation and flood protection.

The PdF wants to realign development aid because it considers current policy inefficient. Partner countries are to be chosen by human rights record and need, projects are to be consolidated, and funds are to be monitored more strictly.

The PdF wants to change development aid. Partner countries should respect human rights. There should be fewer but bigger projects. A website should show all projects and spending. Outside experts should check how the money is used.

The platform is critical of cooperation with states that systematically violate human rights and names Egypt as an example. Withdrawal plans are to be drawn up for countries that make no progress or repeatedly commit violations. Instead of more than 9,000 simultaneous projects, there are to be fewer and more comprehensive ones, while the range of topics is to be broader. Tied aid, meaning hidden export promotion, is to end. The plan adds a public transparency portal, stricter checks on partner countries' own contributions with sanctions, and regular external audits.

The PdF wants Germany to act as an active mediator in international conflicts. Negotiations and targeted economic sanctions are to be the main tools, with military action only as a last resort.

The PdF wants to solve conflicts mainly through talks. Germany should mediate between countries in conflict. Sanctions should help too. These are penalties in trade. The military should only be the last option.

Germany is to work with the United Nations, the OSCE, NATO, and regional groupings. The country is to serve as a neutral venue where parties to a conflict can meet and settle disputes. Military means are only to be considered in agreement with alliance partners. Germany is also to promote dialogue, mediation, and peace negotiation initiatives and help shape international strategies for conflict resolution.

The PdF wants to build a joint army of the European Union. It is to be defensive in nature, overseen by the European Parliament, and primarily protect the member states.

The PdF wants a joint army for the EU. The army should only defend. The European Parliament should oversee it. Countries should share technology and knowledge. That should save money.

National armed forces are to be closely integrated to allow a unified defense strategy. The platform expects sharing resources, technology, and know-how to bring more efficiency and strength. Joint research, development, and production are meant to lower costs. The army is also to play an important role in international crises and humanitarian missions.

The PdF wants to upgrade the Bundeswehr's technology, improve training, and speed up procurement. The platform justifies this with the security situation and with shortfalls in equipment, personnel, and procurement.

The PdF wants to equip the German army better. The troops should get modern technology, such as drones. Training should get better. Buying equipment should be faster.

The platform calls for investment in drones, cyber defense, and modern communications so that the armed forces can respond to hybrid threats. Training is to improve through international programs and exercises, and expertise that has moved to the private sector is to be brought back. The platform regards procurement as overregulated and wants to streamline it. Functional solutions are to take priority over expensive, slow custom solutions. The PdF also wants more public information about missions, partnerships, and tasks of the armed forces.

The PdF favors military service as part of a general compulsory service and wants a public debate about it. The platform cites the Bundeswehr's personnel shortage and equipment that it considers insufficient for national and alliance defense.

The PdF likes the idea of a service duty for everyone. Service in the army would be part of it. Society should discuss this. The duty should apply to women and men alike.

Besides the Bundeswehr, the service duty is to include fire departments, the Technisches Hilfswerk (federal civil protection agency), and new disaster relief structures. According to the platform, a modern concept should treat genders equally and include as many groups in society as possible. The PdF expects this to strengthen a sense of unity. Reintroducing such a duty would require large investments to rebuild structures that were dismantled in the past. This is to be planned and financed for the long term.

The PdF wants to continue military and financial support for Ukraine at least at the current level. The platform views the war as a European war and warns that a Ukrainian defeat would have negative security consequences for Europe.

The PdF wants to keep helping Ukraine. Germany should send weapons and money, at least as much as now. Europe should manage this even without the US. The people of Ukraine should decide about peace talks themselves.

The PdF rejects limits on the military goods delivered because that would weaken Ukraine's defense. Europe and Germany should be able to support Ukraine sufficiently even without the United States. Whether fighting continues and under what conditions talks take place is for the Ukrainian people to decide. According to the platform, a defeat would contradict the party's moral understanding and its view of international law.

The PdF affirms the defense of Israel as a German Staatsräson (reason of state). At the same time, it considers criticism of Israeli actions justified when they contradict international norms.

The PdF stands by Israel. Germany should support Israel in defending itself. But the party also wants to be able to criticize Israel. That applies when Israel breaks international rules.

The platform calls protecting the Israeli state a reason of state, meaning a fundamental interest of German policy. For the PdF, this does not mean blanket approval of every political or military decision Israel makes. It describes criticism of violations of international norms as legitimate and necessary.

The PdF relies on military deterrence to prevent a war over Taiwan and wants to push international partners to get more involved. It justifies this with the severe consequences such a war would have for the global economy and for Germany.

The PdF wants to prevent a war over Taiwan. It relies on deterrence for this. That means: military strength should make an attack unattractive. Other countries should get more involved.

The platform describes Taiwan as an emerging liberal democracy. In the PdF's view, a war would hit Germany especially hard as an export and technology nation. It says China shows little interest in talks that do not serve its own national interests. The party therefore wants to work harder to get international partners involved in deterrence.