Merz explains German defense spending to Trump ahead of NATO summit

Merz had already pointed out on Friday that Germany is doubling its defense spending within four years. According to government information, Germany has increased defense spending by approximately 25 billion euros to 124 billion euros overall. "Das ist die größte Kraftanstrengung, die wir jemals gemacht haben, um unsere Verteidigungsfähigkeit zu stärken. Insofern brauchen wir uns hier vor niemandem zu verstecken." He will also express this "auch in aller Bescheidenheit" at the NATO summit in Ankara on Tuesday and Wednesday, Merz continued.

Background: The Den Hague decisions and the new target marks

The Federal Chancellor also pointed out that, in addition to defense spending, a further 1.5 percent of gross domestic product is to be spent on defense-related areas such as infrastructure. Overall, five percent of GDP is to be invested annually in defense and security from 2035 at the latest – as much as has not been seen since the Cold War.

According to this information, Germany wants to reach the five-percent target as early as 2029. That would make Germany significantly faster than the target that the NATO states agreed upon at last year's summit in The Hague. At that time, under the impression of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and at Trump's urging, the alliance had decided to invest at least 3.5 percent of gross domestic product in defense in the future.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stressed ahead of the summit that the defense spending of the alliance partners has meanwhile risen to four percent. He expects each member state to present credible plans at the Ankara summit on how the five-percent target is to be reached.

European allies significantly increase spending

According to information from German government circles, the European allies alone have increased their defense spending by more than 100 billion euros over the past twelve months. Europe is thereby responding to the changed security situation and pressure from Washington.

The phone call between Merz and Trump increases the political significance of the Ankara summit. Germany and the USA are trying to clarify open questions regarding the defense budget ahead of the meeting of NATO heads of state and government. Should Merz prevail with his line in Ankara, the conflict over spending could be considered defused – even though Trump has not yet withdrawn his criticism.

Significance of the Ankara summit

Observers interpret the move as an attempt by the federal government to correct the impression that Germany has done too little on defense financing. With reference to the funds doubled within four years, Merz wants to argue on an equal footing with Trump's demands while simultaneously strengthening European cohesion.

The discussion falls in a phase in which NATO is launching its largest rearmament wave in decades. Should all member states implement their announced plans, the alliance would have a defense budget from 2035 that nominally approaches the spending during the Cold War.