Scholz Rejects Trump’s Defense Spending Proposal
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed his disapproval on Thursday regarding U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s suggestion that NATO allies should raise their defense expenditure to five percent of their GDP. Speaking to Focus Online, Scholz remarked, “That’s a lot of money,” emphasizing the established NATO procedures surrounding defense spending.
Currently, NATO members are expected to allocate two percent of their GDP for defense. Scholz pointed out that Trump’s proposed increase would require Germany to spend about 200 billion euros ($206 billion) annually, which is a significant jump from the country’s federal budget of approximately 490 billion euros. He argued that finding an additional 150 billion euros each year would be impractical.
Germany’s Commitment to Defense Spending
Despite his opposition to the five percent target, Scholz acknowledged that Germany needs to enhance its contributions to national and NATO security. He highlighted that Germany has already increased its defense budget significantly, nearly doubling it to almost 80 billion euros ($82.4 billion) in recent years.
This boost in spending comes in response to heightened security concerns following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. In addition to regular budget increases, Scholz announced a one-time allocation of 100 billion euros ($103 billion) aimed at strengthening the German military.
Defense Minister’s Perspective
During a recent meeting at the Ramstein airbase focused on Ukraine, Germany’s Defense Minister Boris Pistorius echoed Scholz’s sentiments. He firmly stated that the five percent GDP expenditure proposal is excessive, explaining that it would account for approximately 40 percent of Germany’s total federal budget.
Pistorius emphasized the need to focus on the practical aspects of NATO’s goals rather than getting caught up in numerical targets. He questioned which nation could realistically shoulder such a financial burden, urging a shift in focus towards how NATO’s capabilities can be effectively defined and achieved.
