Germany 's new government surprised NATO On Thursday, they proposed strategies to increase defense expenditures, aiming to achieve a benchmark set by U.S. President of allocating five percent of their gross domestic product. Donald Trump .
Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul made this commitment one day later. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who has been in office for slightly more than a week, stated that his coalition government aims to establish 'the most powerful traditional military force in Europe.'
NATO chief Mark Rutte has floated a plan for members to hit the five-percent goal by spending 3.5 percent of GDP on military spending and 1.5 percent on other security measures such as infrastructure and cyber defence.
Wadephul, speaking at a NATO meeting in Turkey, pointed to Rutte's proposal to reach 'the five percent that President Trump demanded' and declared that 'we follow him there'.
In Berlin Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil adopted a more cautious stance, stating that 'while we plan to increase spending on security, the exact amount will be determined by the agreement made during the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague next month.'
Roderich Kiesewetter, a previous high-ranking German military official and a member of Merz's CDU party, described the planned action as a 'paradigm shift' during an interview with Bild newspaper.
He mentioned that 'it won’t occur quickly, but it needs to happen’.
The objective appears ambitious, considering the critical condition of the German military, which has been struggling with deficiencies in crucial weapon systems and faces difficulties in attracting new recruits.
Despite its somber history during World War II, Germany has traditionally hesitated when it comes to significantly increasing defense spending. Following the end of the Cold War, financial support dwindled considerably as various European nations depended on the strong military presence of the United States within NATO.
Years of decreased military expenditure have brought down the count of Germany's battle tanks and howitzers from several thousand to just a few hundred.
In recent years, Germany's armed forces were mocked for equipment failures when they deployed in Afghanistan and Mali. Those included helicopters that couldn't fly and rifles that did not shoot straight.
The army, hoping to boost troop strength to 203,000 by 2031, fell short of its incremental target last year by more than 20,000, despite a social media campaign.
The military lacks adequate resources across various areas including air defenses, drones, satellites, and artificial intelligence capabilities, according to a warning issued by the parliamentary commissioner for the armed forces, Eva Hoegl, in March.
Trump has long claimed NATO partners are not paying their fair share. Germany only just hit the alliance's target last year of spending two percent of GDP on defence.
In response to Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, former chancellor Olaf Scholz declared an additional military expenditure of 100 billion euros ($110 billion).
Large-scale purchases encompass new submarines and F-35 fighter jets – however, these deliveries will only arrive after several years.
Currently, Merz has indicated an even greater change in stance, cautioning about the danger posed by a belligerent Russia.
For Germany, allocating five percent of its GDP would amount to over 200 billion euros annually—a sum once considered unattainable.
However, Merz's alliance has gained significant financial resources: relaxed borrowing limits along with authorization for several hundred billion euros in additional funds earmarked for defense and infrastructure projects.
Merz stated to Die Zeit magazine that substantial investment in defense, particularly in European-manufactured systems, ought to be viewed as an economic stimulant for economies struggling with recession.
"If we aim to bolster our defense capabilities, we should progressively lessen our reliance on the United States," he stated.
The CEO of the major German defense company Rheinmetall, Armin Pappajerry, stated that following an increase in production capabilities in recent times, they are now capable of delivering their products.
A lawmaker with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) that embraces Moscow-friendly policies, Peter Boehringer, called the five-percent target 'completely absurd'.
Ralf Stegner from the SPD, who was part of the smaller party in Merz's governing coalition, also voiced criticism.
Stegner informed the Handelsblatt newspaper that, amidst a strife-ridden world, 'the focus should be on disarmament... rather than an arms race.'
Investing 'huge sums in weaponry that turns the globe into ruins and ash, followed by massive expenditures for rebuilding Gaza, Ukraine, and Aleppo, is sheer lunacy,' he stated.
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