In riposte to Trump, Merz says Germany can defend its military spending push
Merz said Germany will reach NATO’s 3.5% defense target by 2029, well ahead of schedule, as Trump renews criticism of allies.
- On Friday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz defended Germany's defense spending record, rejecting criticism from President Donald Trump who labeled past efforts "ridiculous."
- Earlier this week, Trump decried the bloc's spending on Truth Social, describing German investment between 2014 and 2025 as "MUCH LOWER" than other NATO allies and threatening 5,000 troop withdrawals.
- Germany is doubling its defense budget within four years, reaching 2.4% of GDP in 2025 and targeting 3.5% by 2029, "well ahead of the agreed deadline," Merz told reporters.
- Ahead of next week's NATO summit in Ankara, Merz met with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, who is pursuing a constitutional amendment to remove nuclear weapons deployment restrictions.
- NATO members agreed last year at a summit in the Netherlands to increase collective defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, with leaders expected to affirm an "ironclad commitment" at the upcoming meeting.
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28 Articles
In riposte to Trump, Merz says Germany can defend its military spending push
Germany does not have to shy away from talking up its record on defence spending, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Friday, when asked about U.S. President Donald Trump calling Germany's past efforts "ridiculous".
The US President has once again criticised Germany's NATO contributions. In a phone call with Trump, Merz said what role Germany plays in the Euro-Atlantic region.
mannheim24.de
op-online.dePrior to the NATO summit in Ankara, Trump sharply attacks Germany because of its defence spending – Merz strongly rejects the criticism.
Germany: Merz rebukes Trump jab over defense at Baltic event
In a meeting with Baltic leaders, Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz played up Germany's defense spending. It comes after new criticism from President Donald Trump that Germany is lagging behind other NATO allies.
Within NATO, the US has the highest level of defence spending. US President Trump demands significantly more commitment from the allies and criticizes them on several occasions. He calls Berlin's NATO contribution "laughing".
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