Frankfurt (Germany), July 3 (LaPresse) – “Germany will double its defense budget over the next four years. It is the greatest effort we have ever made to strengthen our defense capabilities.” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said this during a joint press conference with the heads of state and government of the three Baltic countries—Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania—responding to a question about U.S. President Donald Trump’s criticism of the military spending of NATO’s European allies. “For this reason, we have nothing to hide from anyone. We will say this with all the necessary modesty. We are also doing this as the largest member state of the European Union, with the responsibility we bear within Europe,” Merz added, recalling that at the NATO summit in The Hague, allies agreed on a target of allocating 5% of GDP to defense, following discussions over various spending proposals. “The fact that I invited my three colleagues from the Baltic states to Berlin today, and that I welcomed my four E5 counterparts last week, demonstrates that we are closely coordinating on the European front and are determined to make our contribution to NATO’s defense and, in particular, to Europe’s defense. Anyone looking at these figures should acknowledge that. And next week, when we meet in Ankara, I will cite these figures without exaggerating them—but I will cite them,” the Chancellor concluded.
NATO, Merz to Trump: “We have nothing to hide on defense spending; it will double within four years”
Frankfurt (Germany), July 3 (LaPresse) – “Germany will double its defense budget over the next four years. It is the greatest effort we have ever made to strengthen our defense capabilities.” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said this during a joint press conference with the heads of state and government of the three Baltic countries—Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania—responding to a question about U.S. President Donald Trump’s criticism of the military spending of NATO’s European allies. “For this reason, we have nothing to hide from anyone. We will say this with all the necessary modesty. We are also doing this as the largest member state of the European Union, with the responsibility we bear within Europe,” Merz added, recalling that at the NATO summit in The Hague, allies agreed on a target of allocating 5% of GDP to defense, following discussions over various spending proposals. “The fact that I invited my three colleagues from the Baltic states to Berlin today, and that I welcomed my four E5 counterparts last week, demonstrates that we are closely coordinating on the European front and are determined to make our contribution to NATO’s defense and, in particular, to Europe’s defense. Anyone looking at these figures should acknowledge that. And next week, when we meet in Ankara, I will cite these figures without exaggerating them—but I will cite them,” the Chancellor concluded.
