Germany rushes to allocate $899M in unspent defence funds before deadline
Germany’s finance minister, Lars Klingbeil, has ordered urgent action on unspent defence funds from last year. Klingbeil announced on Tuesday that roughly 1.3 trillion won ($899 million) must be allocated before the 2025 deadline passes. The unspent funds were identified after the close of the fiscal year. Klingbeil, who oversees the economy and finance portfolio, instructed his ministry to resolve the issue without delay. His team is now working with the Defence Ministry and other departments to distribute the remaining budget. Plans are being drawn up based on January’s revenue figures. The finance ministry aims to finalise the allocations within this week. Officials have stressed the need for swift coordination between agencies to meet the tight schedule. The move ensures that allocated defence spending is used as intended. With the 2025 fiscal year now over, the remaining funds will be directed to pending projects or commitments. The process is expected to conclude before the end of the current week.
