German Chancellor Friedrich Merz admitted in an interview with the BBC that European countries have relied on the defense provided by the United States for too long. In his statement, he confirmed the thesis supported by US President Donald Trump that NATO allies should increase their military spending, BTA reports.
“We know that we have to do more ourselves and in the past we really behaved like free passengers“, Merz said. “Now we are being told to do more and we are doing it.“
In June, NATO countries agreed to allocate 5% of their GDP to defense, including 3.5% for so-called “hard defense“ - weapons and armed forces. Germany has pledged to reach that threshold by 2029, the country's largest military spending program since the end of the Cold War. To achieve this, constitutional changes are planned that would allow for a significant increase in public debt.
Merz, who took office in May, said he was in regular contact with President Trump and that they were coordinating their efforts, including on the war in Ukraine. "We are trying to end this war," he stressed.
Despite his good personal relationship with the American leader, Merz reiterated his position that Trump remains "largely indifferent to the fate of Europe." A thesis he expressed after his election victory in February. "He is not as clear and committed to the allies as previous American presidents and administrations," the chancellor added.
"Our army is not strong enough, which is why we are investing so much," Merz concluded.