How did Russia’s invasion of Ukraine change the Social Democratic Party of Germany government’s defense policy?

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the government led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) initiated a dramatic pivot in Germany’s foreign policy and defense posture, which Scholz termed a Zeitenwende ("new era") for Europe.12

Key changes to defense policy included:

• Military Aid: The government reversed a long-standing post-World War II practice of refusing to send lethal weapons to active combat zones. Germany began providing military assistance to Ukraine, including the dispatch of 1,000 antitank weapons and 500 Stinger surface-to-air missiles.12
• Increased Defense Spending: Scholz announced the creation of a €100 billion fund specifically to improve and modernize the German military. Furthermore, the government committed to an ongoing annual investment in defense equivalent to 2 percent of Germany’s gross domestic product.12

These shifts represented a significant departure from previous policies, reflecting what the government described as an "unequivocal response" to the security threat posed by Russian aggression.12