On Thursday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz conveyed his support for increased military spending, a stance made amidst mounting pressure on NATO members to raise their defense budgets given the perceived threat from Russia.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has recommended that alliance members should allocate 3.5% of their gross domestic product (GDP) towards defense, along with an additional 1.5% for defense-related infrastructure for the next few years.
Former US President Donald Trump had previously called on NATO members, particularly those in Europe, to ramp up their spending to 5% of GDP. The United States’ defense spending is projected to be at 2.7% of GDP in 2024, according to the US Department of Defense.
These new spending targets are expected to be endorsed at the upcoming NATO summit in June in The Hague.
“We find these targets reasonable and achievable,” Merz stated, “at least within the specified timeframe up to 2032.”
After his confirmation this month following February’s federal elections, the chancellor prioritized the modernization of Germany’s armed forces as one of his main campaign promises.
In March, Germany relaxed its “debt brake” rule—a fiscal guideline that restricts government borrowing—to finance an increase in defense spending.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul also supports Trump’s call to boost NATO defense spending to 5% of GDP.
Germany’s defense spending increased from 1.19% of GDP in 2014 to 2.12% in 2022, according to NATO estimates.
Lithuania has also announced its intention to increase defense spending to over 5% of GDP starting next year.
As a country considered highly vulnerable to a potential Russian attack, alongside Estonia and Latvia, Lithuania is set to spend over 3% of its GDP on defense in 2025.
“My country is ready to do its part. Starting next year, we will have 5% of our GDP dedicated to defense,” stated Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, who accompanied Merz to Vilnius on Thursday to mark the deployment of a German tank brigade, emphasized that “deterrence and defense are Germany’s top priorities.”
