Germany refuses Trump’s army spending request
(MENAFN) German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has rejected US President Donald Trump's call for NATO members to spend 5% of their GDP on military defense. While Pistorius acknowledged the need for increased defense spending, he argued that Germany simply cannot afford such an expense, explaining that 5% of Germany's GDP would account for 42% of its federal budget, which would be financially unsustainable.
Pistorius emphasized the importance of explaining potential security threats to the public and finding the best way to protect the country, rather than focusing on reaching specific financial targets. He did agree, however, that Germany would need to increase its defense spending beyond the current 2% of GDP.
Trump had criticized European NATO allies for not contributing enough to defense spending and previously threatened that the US would not defend countries that fail to meet their financial obligations. Meanwhile, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda supported Trump's 5% goal, citing the ongoing threat from Russia.
In contrast, Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed Western accusations of Russian aggression, framing Russia's actions in Ukraine as defensive.
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