Scholz says NATO and EU should increase defense spending
Photo: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (Getty Images)
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that NATO and the European Union should increase defense spending. This is due to the threat from the Russian shadow navy, Tagesschau reports.
According to Scholz, European NATO and EU countries should continue to increase their defense spending.
“NATO's Operation Baltic Watch will improve the protection of the Baltic Sea and critical infrastructure on the seabed,” Scholz said.
The Chancellor reminded that NATO is a guarantor of common security and many Allies have significantly increased their defense spending in recent years. Scholz also emphasized the need to continue supporting Ukraine in its defense campaign against Russia.
“And we agree that we need to strengthen the European part of NATO and further increase defense spending,” he added.
NATO defense spending
Recently, President Donald Trump said that NATO countries should increase defense spending to 5% of GDP. This would be a fair approach to reducing the financial burden on the United States.
The other day, it was also reported that Lithuania and Estonia promised to reach 5% of defense spending after “good and constructive pressure” from the United States.
Earlier, Bloomberg reported that NATO is considering raising the defense spending rate from 2% to 3% of GDP.
