Germany backs Donald Trump goal for Nato to spend 5% of GDP on defence

Mark Ruttegeneral

When it comes to the core defense spending, we need to do much, much more,

Rutte said,

Mark Ruttegeneral

We will see what is the best way to play that."

As Rutte put it

It's hugely important that we recommit to Europe's defense and step up alongside our U.S. partners in this challenging geopolitical moment, with so many pressures across the world—particularly in the Indo-Pacific,

Lammy said

If we want to strengthen our defence capabilities, we must gradually reduce our dependence on the US

he said

Friedrich Merzgerman Chancellor

We must make all the means available that the Bundeswehr needs so that it can become the strongest conventional army in Europe.”

In his first major address to the German parliament, Friedrich Merz said

The 3.5 target is the right amount for core defence spending,

Barrot told journalists in Turkey

Margus Tsahknaestonian Foreign Minister

The target for NATO member states should be 5% in the future. And we are not talking about anything else but real defence spending, what is defined in NATO rules,

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said in Antalya

Marco Rubiosecretary of State

NATO has the opportunity to grow even stronger. The alliance...is only as strong as his weakest link and we intend and endeavor to have no weak links in this alliance,

Rubio told reporters in Antalya before the meeting

Johann Wadephulgerman Foreign Minister

We are following him (Trump), and we see this as a clear commitment by the United States to NATO's Article 5,

Germany's new Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said, referring to the military alliance's mutual defence pact

It now seems that we will get very far in bringing the whole of the alliance to the 2%, that will build the launching platform for the summit,

he said

And we follow him there,

Wadephul told a meeting of the alliance in Türkiye

This is the first step. Then it's possible to do more, it's possible to increase the money for defense,

he said

The result is the 5% that President [Donald] Trump has called for, and we will follow him in this respect."

Speaking on the sidelines of an informal gathering of NATO foreign ministers in Antalya, Turkey, Wadephul said

For example, to make sure that bridges are there for you and me to drive our cars, but also, if necessary, to make sure that the bridge will hold a tank,

he said upon arrival at the Antalya meeting

There is a lot at stake for us,

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys said