Defense Minister Pistorius condemns Berlin coalition's move to end army-school partnership

Boris Pistorius, Germany’s defense minister, publicly rebuked the coalition of the Left, Greens and Social Democrats in Berlin for seeking to end the joint programme between the city’s education administration and the Bundeswehr. He described the move as "completely incomprehensible" given that the agreement was only concluded in June. Pistorius said the termination could leave teachers unsure about whether youth officers are still politically welcome in schools, despite the programme’s proven benefits in numerous German states.

He emphasized that the Bundeswehr requires clear political backing, especially as security threats intensify, and that Berlin’s reversal would signal opposition to the military’s core mission. While the change would not necessarily eliminate youth officers from all Berlin schools, Pistorius urged each school to continually assess which external speakers to invite. The coalition’s internal discussions on forming a new state government are ongoing, with party committees set to decide on coalition talks later this week.