German Chancellor Demands Recognition for European Allies' NATO Efforts Amid Trump Criticism

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Friday called for acknowledgment of European allies' significant economic contributions to NATO, pushing back against criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump regarding defense spending. Merz stated that Germany is set to double its defense budget within four years, representing its largest-ever commitment to bolstering defense capabilities.

"We have agreed on 5% and Germany will double its defense budget within four years. This is the greatest effort we have ever made to strengthen our defense capability. In this regard, we do not have to hide from anyone, and we will express this with all modesty," Merz declared at a press conference. He was joined by Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal and the presidents of Latvia and Lithuania, Edgars Rinkēvičs and Gitanas Nausėda, respectively.

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Pak Bupati tadi sudah datang jam 9, sesuai undangan dan diterima oleh Inspektur Jenderal.

Merz highlighted the coordination among European nations, evidenced by his meetings with Baltic leaders and previous discussions with other E5 format countries. He emphasized that this unified European approach to contributing to NATO's defense, particularly for Europe's security, warrants recognition. Merz indicated he would present these figures, without exaggeration, at an upcoming meeting in Ankara.

Nausėda, the President of Lithuania, deemed NATO's goal of allies reaching 5% of defense spending by 2035 "ambitious enough." He stressed the importance of all member states fulfilling this commitment, warning that disparities in spending could divide the Alliance. Latvia's President Rinkēvičs recalled that NATO's 2014 agreement for 2.5% of GDP for defense was not consistently met, contributing to Russia's aggression against Ukraine. He argued that failing to reach the 5% target, especially for countries bordering Russia, would necessitate higher costs if attacked, underscoring defense spending as a deterrent. Estonia's spending is already at 5.4% of GDP.

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