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.
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Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 21 March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz agreed on Wednesday in Beijing to strengthen economic cooperation while addressing trade imbalances, market access concerns, and the war in Ukraine, during Merz’s first official visit to China since taking office.
Despite its economic might, the European Union is often labelled a “geopolitical dwarf.” The only region where it acts as an indisputable player, able to assert its will with relative ease, is the Western Balkans, along with parts of Eastern Europe.
One U.S. crew member has been rescued after two American warplanes were downed over Iran and the Gulf, as the search continues for a missing pilot, while President Donald Trump has given Tehran 48 hours to agree to a deal to end the war.
The U.N. Security Council is expected to vote next week on a Bahraini resolution to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and protect commercial shipping, diplomats said on Friday, amid opposition from China to any authorisation of force.
The U.S. rescued an airman missing from one of two warplanes downed in Iran, two U.S. officials said, as President Donald Trump and Israel stepped up pressure on Iran to open the strategic Strait of Hormuz or face attacks on energy facilities.
The family of the late Virginia Giuffre have urged King Charles III to meet survivors of sexual abuse during his upcoming state visit to the United States.
Senegal has taken steps to curb government spending by banning non-essential foreign travel for ministers, as rising global oil prices place increasing pressure on the country’s finances.
At least 70 people are missing and two bodies have been recovered after a boat carrying migrants capsized in the Mediterranean Sea, an Italian NGO said on Sunday (5 April).
Fuel leaked at Russia’s Baltic Sea port of Primorsk, while the NORSI oil refinery caught fire following drone attacks, Russian authorities said on Sunday (5 April).
The family of the late Virginia Giuffre have urged King Charles III to meet survivors of sexual abuse during his upcoming state visit to the United States.
British police have arrested a fourth person in connection with an arson attack on ambulances belonging to a Jewish community charity. The arrest took place at a London court on Saturday, where three other suspects were already appearing.
Senegal has taken steps to curb government spending by banning non-essential foreign travel for ministers, as rising global oil prices place increasing pressure on the country’s finances.
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