Merkel rejects criticism of German defence spending

BERLIN – Chancellor Angela Merkel is rejecting criticism of Germany’s defence spending amid suggestions it might decline after next year that have angered the U.S.

The finance minister’s budget plan reportedly foresees Germany’s defence spending rising to 1.37 per cent of national income in 2020, then declining to 1.25 per cent by 2023. NATO countries have pledged to move toward spending 2 per cent of GDP on defence. Merkel’s government has pledged to increase spending to 1.5 per cent by 2024.

Merkel said Tuesday defence spending has increased as a share of GDP even as the economy has grown. She said long-term budget plans contain “minimal data,” and actual spending has always been revised upward.

She highlighted the importance of foreign aid, saying Germany will continue its efforts on defence “but not at the expense of development aid.”