Discussions over defense spending continue as North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) leaders are scheduled to meet in Ankara next week.
Published July 3, 2026
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz defended his country’s NATO defense spending, just days after US President Donald Trump renewed his criticism of the alliance’s members.
Friday’s statement came as a NATO summit is scheduled for next week in Ankara. Trump has criticized defense spending by member states throughout his political career, calling the balance of spending “ridiculous” and “one-sided” in his latest Truth social post on the issue earlier this week.
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In one post, Trump said Germany’s spending from 2014 to 2025 was “much lower” than the United States and other NATO allies, again calling it “ridiculous!”
Asked about this comment, Merz said Germany would double its defense budget within four years.
“This is the largest effort we have ever made to strengthen our nation’s defense capabilities. There is no reason for us to hold back anyone in this regard,” Mertz said.
“We say this with a great deal of humility. We do so in a position of responsibility within Europe, as the largest member state of the European Union,” he said.
Relations between the United States and Europe remained tense throughout President Trump’s first term, from 2017 to 2021, and his current term, which began in January 2025.
But after largely belittling the president during his first four years in office, several European leaders are seeking a more deferential approach to him this time around.
At the request of the United States, NATO leaders agreed to spend 3.5% of their GDP on core defense items such as weapons and militaries by 2035, higher than the previous target of 2% of GDP set by EU countries.
But relations have since cracked over several issues, including President Trump’s pledge to govern Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory. Denmark is a member of NATO.
The US-Israel war in Iran has also proven to be a major wedge, with President Trump launching the conflict without consulting European allies who have been dealing with the fallout from closing the Strait of Hormuz.
President Trump has repeatedly criticized European allies for not joining the war.
Meanwhile, Mertz said in April that the United States had been “humiliated” by Iran, infuriating the president. In response, President Trump said the United States would withdraw the 5,000 troops currently stationed in Germany.
Merz said in a speech Friday that Germany is meeting its NATO commitments ahead of schedule.
“We will reach the 3.5% threshold set in The Hague as early as 2029,” he told reporters, “much earlier than the agreed deadline.”
