Germany seeks leading role in NATO defence spending

Germany wants to take a leading role among NATO allies in increasing defence spending, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said on September 10, according to foreign media.

“I would say that, one way or another, all allies are meeting this task [of increasing defence spending]. Some are doing it more slowly, others faster,” Wadephul said at an event in Berlin attended by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

“Germany wants to take a leading role in this, to set an example for others,” he added.

Rutte has praised Germany’s efforts to strengthen its defence capabilities, saying higher German defence spending would significantly increase overall NATO spending.

“If the German government moves ahead and spends 3.5% of GDP by 2029, that will significantly push NATO defence spending upwards,” he said.

Rutte also highlighted the deployment of German troops in Lithuania, as well as German-supplied Patriot air defence systems and main battle tanks, saying a stronger Germany would mean a stronger Europe and NATO.

He said he believed Washington would continue to defend Europe and described US President Donald Trump’s demands for higher European defence spending as reasonable.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said earlier that the Russian threat had become “very tangible” following the attack in Leipzig. He described it as “only the latest in a series of attacks against Europe and NATO”, accusing Russia of pursuing its imperial ambitions through a globally interconnected effort against European interests.

Wadephul added that the threat was not only coming from Russia but also from “interested circles” inside Germany, apparently referring to rising support for pro-Russian parties including the far-right AfD, the far-left Die Linke and the BSW.

By Aghakazim Guliyev