Friedrich Merz, Germany’s opposition leader and likely next chancellor, has pledged to increase defence spending but declined to commit to NATO’s proposed 5% GDP target, highlighting the need for practical and sustainable measures ahead of February’s parliamentary elections.
German opposition leader Friedrich Merz, expected to become chancellor in next month’s election, stated on Wednesday that Germany would increase defence spending but stopped short of endorsing NATO’s 5% GDP target proposed by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.
Speaking to Bayerischer Rundfunk, Merz said, "We first really have to reach the 2% lower limit in Germany. We are not there yet," adding that specific percentages were less important than ensuring effective defence capabilities.
Markus Soeder, leader of the Christian Social Union (CSU), agreed that military spending should increase, suggesting it should rise to "well over 3%." However, Germany’s current ability to meet NATO’s 2% target relies on a special fund set to expire in 2028, raising concerns about maintaining this level of expenditure.
Defence spending has become a central campaign issue ahead of Germany’s 23 February parliamentary elections, with pressure mounting due to Trump’s proposals and tensions with Russia.
While Merz believes Germany can finance increased defence spending without special funds, Economy Minister Robert Habeck of the Greens has proposed a 3.5% target funded through loans. Social Democrat Dirk Wiese dismissed Trump’s demands as "complete madness" and criticised Habeck’s proposal as "somewhat half-baked," echoing outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Thailand’s caretaker Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Saturday that Thai forces would continue military action along the Cambodia border u...
U.S. stock markets closed lower at the end of the week, as investors continued to rotate out of technology shares, putting pressure on major indices....
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has warned that without concrete concessions from Russia, such as limiting its military forces or curbing its defe...
Multiple people were shot on Saturday at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, prompting an active shooter alert and a campus lockdown, city o...
The latest round of clashes between Thailand and Cambodia has left 15 Thai soldiers dead and 270 others injured, Thailand’s Ministry of Defence spok...
The upcoming meeting in Berlin between U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and European officials is set to focus on advancing a proposed peace framework, though analysts warn reaching a deal may be difficult.
The leaders of Britain, France and Germany held a call with U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday (10 December) to discuss Washington's latest peace efforts to end the war in Ukraine, in what they said was a "critical moment" in the process.
Ukraine is set to present a revised 20-point peace plan to the United States today, as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and key European leaders work to steer Washington’s ceasefire framework away from concessions they fear could lock in Russian territorial gains.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Thursday (4 December) firmly rejected U.S. proposals to use Russian assets frozen in the European Union for the benefit of the United States, emphasising that these funds should be directed to support Ukraine.
The Oligarch’s Design is an investigative documentary exploring how financial power, political influence and carefully constructed narratives can shape conflict and public perception.
Japan has lifted a tsunami advisory issued after an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.9 hit the country's northeastern region on Friday (12 December), the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said. The JMA had earlier put the earthquake's preliminary magnitude at 6.7.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reiterated his offer to host Ukraine-Russia peace talks in Ankara, at his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The talks took place on the sidelines of the international Forum for Peace and Trust in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, on Friday (12 December).
The United States issued new sanctions targeting Venezuela on Thursday, imposing curbs on three nephews of President Nicolas Maduro's wife, as well as six crude oil tankers and shipping companies linked to them, as Washington ramps up pressure on Caracas.
The resignation of Bulgaria's government on Thursday (11 December) puts an end to an increasingly unpopular coalition but is likely to usher in a period of prolonged political instability on the eve of the Black Sea nation's entry into the euro zone.
Thailand’s caretaker Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Saturday that Thai forces would continue military action along the Cambodia border until Bangkok believes there is no longer a threat to Thai territory or civilians.
U.S. stock markets closed lower at the end of the week, as investors continued to rotate out of technology shares, putting pressure on major indices.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has warned that without concrete concessions from Russia, such as limiting its military forces or curbing its defence budget, new conflicts could erupt elsewhere, even if Ukraine receives security guarantees.
Multiple people were shot on Saturday at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, prompting an active shooter alert and a campus lockdown, city officials said.
The latest round of clashes between Thailand and Cambodia has left 15 Thai soldiers dead and 270 others injured, Thailand’s Ministry of Defence spokesman Surasant Kongsiri said at a press conference on Saturday.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment