SPD on foreign affairs and defence

The SPD wants to permanently spend at least two percent of economic output on defense and modernize the Bundeswehr. Germany is to take on more responsibility within NATO for protecting Europe because, in the platform's view, the United States will no longer carry the main burden.

The SPD wants to spend more money on the armed forces. It should be at least two percent of economic output. The armed forces should become more modern. German soldiers should be based in Lithuania for good. Germany should take on more tasks in NATO.

The Bundeswehr is to become a more attractive employer, for example by making family and service easier to combine, and soldiers harmed on deployment are to get better care. The platform cites the Baltic Sea command in Rostock, the joint development of European long-range strike weapons and the Sky Shield air defense initiative as contributions to alliance defense. The SPD sees the stationing of US intermediate-range weapons in western Germany as a response to the security situation. Germany is to be built up as a NATO logistics hub. The brigade in Lithuania is to get priority in equipment, funding and personnel.

Because of the changed security situation, the SPD plans a new, flexible military service. It is to be voluntary, guided by the needs of the Bundeswehr, and aimed above all at building a resilient reserve.

The SPD wants a new military service. That means people serve in the armed forces for a while. The service should be voluntary. The state should record who is eligible. This should give the armed forces more reserve troops.

The scale of the service is to depend on what the Bundeswehr needs. The legal and practical basis for registering people eligible for service is to be created quickly. According to the platform, the main purpose is a reserve that stays operational over a longer period.

The SPD wants to support Ukraine diplomatically, militarily, financially and with humanitarian aid for as long as necessary. Germany and NATO are not to become parties to the war themselves, which is why the SPD rejects delivering the Taurus cruise missile. It welcomes peace initiatives but not a peace dictated by Russia.

The SPD wants to keep helping Ukraine. Germany delivers weapons and trains soldiers. But Germany does not deliver the Taurus cruise missile. Germany should not be drawn into the war itself. Ukraine should take part in any peace talks.

The SPD stands by the bilateral security agreement with Ukraine and demands that its sovereignty and territory be preserved. Negotiations are not to take place without Ukraine, and it should be able to face Russia as an equal. Civilian aid, for example for electricity supply and hospitals, is to continue. The platform views peace initiatives by the Ukrainian president and by countries of the Global South positively, and Germany is to help with mediation and implementation. In the long term, the SPD seeks a European security and peace order and sees the OSCE as an important forum for it.

The SPD wants to push for new approaches to arms control and for disarmament. Its goal remains a world without nuclear weapons. It supports a global no-first-use commitment and preserving the New START treaty.

The SPD wants fewer weapons in the world. Its goal is a world without nuclear weapons. No country should use nuclear weapons first. A treaty limits the nuclear weapons of the US and Russia. That treaty should stay and be extended.

The SPD bases this on the war waged in Europe by Russia, a nuclear power. The New START treaty limits strategic nuclear weapons and is to be honored and extended. With regard to the stationing of US intermediate-range weapons, too, the SPD wants to keep discussing arms control proposals within NATO.

The SPD wants to expand existing partnerships, above all with France, Poland, the United Kingdom and the United States. With the US, it wants to reduce trade barriers and avoid a subsidy race; at the same time, Europe is to become more self-reliant in security policy.

The SPD wants to keep and strengthen close partners. These include France, Poland, the UK and the US. There should be no trade fight with the US. But Europe should do more for its own security.

The platform regards the relationship with France as the core of European unification; Poland and the Baltic Sea region are also to get special attention. With London, the SPD supports talks on a broad bilateral agreement that builds on the Trinity House defense agreement and covers education, the economy and security. The platform calls the US the closest partner outside Europe. Given possible protectionist steps by the US, Europe is to grow economically stronger through investment and innovation in future technologies.

The SPD wants to implement Germany's China strategy and coordinate policy toward Beijing at the European level. In critical areas the economy is to become less dependent on China, while dialogue is to continue, including on contentious issues.

The SPD wants Europe to act together toward China. Germany should depend less on China for important goods. Still, the SPD wants to keep talking with China. Difficult topics should be raised too.

The platform sees China as partner, competitor and systemic rival at once; without it, climate change, arms control and the debt crisis of poorer countries could not be tackled. The SPD is critical of China's increasingly aggressive conduct and its support for Russia. The platform calls greater economic independence de-risking. The SPD holds to the One China policy and demands that the Taiwan question be settled peacefully and by mutual agreement. Human rights, industrial policy and Russia policy are to be raised openly in talks with Beijing.

The SPD wants to deepen cooperation with countries of the Global South and aims for a new North-South policy. The platform argues that many of these states are turning away from liberal democracies and that Europe's own security and prosperity are also at stake.

The SPD wants to work more closely with countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. These include India, Indonesia, South Africa and Brazil. The countries should be equal partners. The SPD also wants reconciliation with Namibia.

With India, Indonesia, South Africa and Brazil, the SPD wants to stand up for multilateralism, a rules-based order and democracy, even though these countries belong to the BRICS group alongside Russia. Colonial continuities are to be overcome, and cooperation is to take place on an equal footing. The platform calls reconciliation with Namibia a task arising from historical responsibility. Foreign cultural and educational policy is to strengthen ties between civil societies as a pillar of foreign policy.

The SPD commits to Israel's right to exist and its security as a German reason of state while calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. In the long run it holds to two states created through negotiation, arguing that only a political prospect can secure Israel permanently.

The SPD stands with Israel. But it demands that the fighting in Gaza stop right away. People in Gaza should get food and medicine. In the end there should be two states: Israel and Palestine.

The platform condemns the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023, demands the release of all hostages and recognizes Israel's right to self-defense, which it says is bound by proportionality and the protection of civilians. Aid deliveries are to reach Gaza unhindered. A reformed Palestinian Authority is to take over civil administration there. The SPD calls for an end to Israeli settlement construction in the Palestinian territories and rejects annexation plans. In Lebanon, all sides are to comply with UN Resolution 1701. In Syria, the SPD wants to support the political transition and reconstruction under Syrian responsibility, with protection for minorities and women's rights.

The SPD supports international sanctions against Iran's leadership and demands that the Revolutionary Guards be listed as a terrorist organization in the EU. It cites Iran's role in regional conflicts, its help for Russia and repression inside the country.

The SPD wants to put pressure on Iran's government. It supports penalties against the country. The Revolutionary Guards are a powerful force in Iran. The EU should classify them as a terror group.

According to the platform, Iran is worsening the security situation in the Middle East and shares responsibility for many conflicts. It names the delivery of missiles and drones to Russia, the direct attack on Israel and the refusal to allow inspections of nuclear facilities. Inside the country, the persecution of dissidents is said to be growing, especially of women standing up for their rights.

The SPD wants to spend at least 0.7 percent of economic output on development cooperation and keep the development ministry as a separate department. According to the platform, the aim is to overcome poverty, hunger and inequality and to prevent crises.

The SPD wants to help poorer countries. Germany should give a fixed share of its income for this. The development ministry should stay independent. Women and men should have equal rights everywhere.

The SPD also expects partners, especially in the G7, to meet the 0.7 percent mark. Besides governments, civil society and private business in partner countries are to be strengthened. Feminist foreign and development policy is to continue. The platform lists help in hunger crises, more sustainable farming systems, social protection systems and a global health policy centered on the World Health Organization. Humanitarian aid and crisis prevention are to ease suffering and also secure Germany's diplomatic influence. The UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals serve as the guideline.

The SPD wants to reform multilateral organizations, including the UN Security Council with its veto rule, which it regards as obstructive. Together with Brazil, India and Japan, it seeks a permanent seat on the Security Council.

The Security Council is an important body of the United Nations. Single countries can block decisions there. The SPD wants to change that. Germany should get a fixed seat there. Countries from Africa, Asia and Latin America should have more say.

The platform calls multilateralism a foundation for peace and prosperity. States from Africa, Latin America and Asia are to be better represented at all levels. The G4 initiative is the joint push by Germany, Brazil, India and Japan for permanent seats. Dialogue and cooperation are to take place in the United Nations and in forums such as the G20.