Why higher German spending would not quickly buy a carrier

Would Germany eventually acquire an aircraft carrier or large LHD under a five-percent defence budget?

Not soon; land and air rearmament come first, and Baltic missions point toward smaller multirole amphibious ships rather than a large carrier.

A larger defence budget does not remove the opportunity cost of Germany's extensive army and air-force requirements. Naval aviation would therefore compete with more immediate rearmament priorities for years. A large LHD is also a poor fit for amphibious operations concentrated in the Baltic, where shorter distances and shore-based air power reduce its advantages. The panel instead suggests smaller multirole ships resembling Britain's proposed amphibious support vessels. Force structure should follow theatre and mission rather than a desire to own the most prestigious platform.