Pistorius criticizes Berlin plan to end school agreement with Bundeswehr

Defence Minister Boris Pistorius criticized a plan to end Berlin’s cooperation agreement with the Bundeswehr, Germany’s armed forces.

The proposed change was included in exploratory decisions by Berlin’s Social Democrats, Greens and Left Party as they discuss forming a coalition.

The agreement, signed in June, supports Bundeswehr youth officers speaking in schools, but ending it would not automatically bar them from classrooms.

Instead, individual schools would have more responsibility for deciding whether to invite the officers.

Pistorius says the change could make teachers unsure whether the visits have political backing, at a time when Germany is debating military service and facing security concerns linked to Russia’s war against Ukraine.

The ministry says youth officers provide information on security and defence policy, are not recruiters, and leave teaching decisions to educators.

The dispute matters because the government says the armed forces need clear public support, and Berlin’s emerging coalition discussions will determine whether the agreement ends.