New German chancellor urges EU to boost defence spending

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called on all EU member states to increase defence spending, marking his first major foreign policy statement during an official visit to Paris.

Speaking alongside French President Emmanuel Macron in his first visit as the newly approved German Chancellor, the German media cites Merz’s warning that Europe faces "enormous challenges" and must urgently bolster its security, Caliber.Az reports.

“Europe must become more secure,” he said at a joint press conference, adding that enhanced Franco-German cooperation is key to tackling current threats.

“To meet these challenges, France and Germany must work even more closely than before, find common ground, and move forward together with our European partners,” Merz said. He and Macron agreed on launching a renewed Franco-German initiative aimed at strengthening Europe’s role in defence and security.

The chancellor highlighted plans for intensified bilateral cooperation in defence industries and accelerated collaboration across the EU. “To achieve this, all member states must increase their defence budgets. Only then can we close capability gaps in our armed forces and maintain strong, ongoing support for Ukraine,” he said.

Merz also reiterated support for transatlantic unity, noting that President Donald Trump can rely on Germany and France in diplomatic efforts to resolve the war in Ukraine. As Europe reassesses its defence posture amid the ongoing war in Ukraine and growing uncertainty over US security commitments under President Donald Trump, Merz has previously stressed that Washington’s continued involvement remains indispensable.

“We cannot end this war in Ukraine without the ongoing participation of the United States. This is not something Europe can handle alone,” he said. He added that any future ceasefire or security guarantees for Ukraine would depend on US engagement. “President Trump has our full support when it comes to ending the war,” Merz noted.

By Nazrin Sadigova