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Germany plans to up NATO defence spending to over €50 billion

Germany said Monday it would raise its NATO spending to more than €50 billion in 2020, days before leaders meet in London for the 70th anniversary of the transatlantic partnership.

Published: 18 November 2019 16:09 CET
Germany plans to up NATO defence spending to over €50 billion
A Bundeswehr soldier outside of an airport in Gao, Mali. Photo: DPA

“For 2019, we have a NATO defence spending of 47.9 billion,” equivalent to 1.39 percent of output, said a defence ministry spokesman.

“For next year, this spending will be at 50.3 billion, or 1.42 percent” of gross domestic product, he added.

The new estimates were above the 1.37 percent predicted in March for 2020, but still fall short of the two percent goal set by the alliance in 2014.

READ ALSO: Germany wants change to two percent NATO budget goal

Germany has been repeatedly singled out by US President Donald Trump for  failing to meet the target.

Its latest commitment to increase spending also came amid sharp divisions with the bloc, after France's President Emmanuel Macron said the alliance was  suffering from “brain death”.

The upper half of the following graph looks at Germany's defence spending per year in billions, while the lower half shows what percentage of the country's GDP this represents. The years 2018 and 2019 represent vorläufig (preliminary) figures.

In an interview with The Economist, Macron decried a lack of coordination between Europe and the US and lamented recent unilateral action in Syria by  Turkey, a key member of the military alliance.

His comments were immediately slapped down by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who called the “sweeping judgements” unnecessary.

READ ALSO: 'Resume the fight against terror': Merkel backs call for troops in Syria

In an interview published Sunday, German Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer also underlined growing differences between the two European  giants over NATO.

“The French aim for more European cooperation in order to replace NATO. I  prefer to speak of “A2A”, or “ability to act,” Kramp-Karrenbauer told Die Welt daily.

“For me it's about everything that strengthens European defence strengthening the European pillar of NATO at the same time.”

READ ALSO: More women soldiers and less equipment: A look at Germany's army in numbers

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NATO

Sweden strikes deal with Turkey over Nato membership

Sweden has finally won the backing of Turkey's President Erdogan for its Nato membership, with a deal struck on the eve of the alliance's Vilnius summit opening the way for Turkish ratification "as soon as possible".

Published: 10 July 2023 21:40 CEST
Sweden strikes deal with Turkey over Nato membership

“President Erdogan has agreed to forward the Accession Protocol for Sweden to the Grand National Assembly as soon as possible and work closely with the assembly to ensure ratification,” Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said after the deal was struck. “This is a historic step which makes all Nato allies stronger and safer.” 

At the press conference, Sweden’s prime minister Ulf Kristersson, said it had been “a long day in a long journey towards Swedish membership”. 

“I am extremely happy,” he said. “This is a good day for Sweden”. 

In a separate joint statement, Sweden repeated its commitments to help Turkey in its “fight against terrorism” making an addition pledge to support Turkey’s in its long-stalled efforts to join the EU. 

“Sweden will actively support efforts to reinvigorate Turkiye’s EU accession process, including modernisation of the EU-Turkiye Customs Union and
visa liberalisation,” the statement said.

In return, Turkey said it “will transmit the Accession Protocol for Sweden to the Grand National Assembly, and work closely with the Assembly to ensure ratification.”

Turkey has been holding up Sweden’s application to join the Atlantic alliance, accusing Stockholm of harbouring Kurdish activists Ankara regards as
terrorists.

And on Monday, Erdogan upped the stakes further, demanding that the European Union revive Turkey’s stalled EU membership bid as a precondition for Sweden joining Nato.

Shortly before the deal was announced Erdogan interrupted his talks with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson to hold talks with Charles Michel, the President of the EU Council. 

Michel hailed a “good meeting”, adding that they had “explored opportunities ahead to bring EU-Turkey cooperation back to the forefront and re-energise our relations”.

Turkey has been a formal candidate to join the European Union since 2005, and an aspirant since long before that, but talks have long been stalled with little sign of life.

US President Joe Biden welcomed the agreement. 

“I stand ready to work with President Erdogan and Turkey on enhancing defence and deterrence in the Euro-Atlantic area,” he said in a statement, adding: “I look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Kristersson and Sweden as our 32nd NATO ally.”

“The path for Turkey’s ratification of Sweden’s membership of Nato is finally clear,” German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock wrote on Twitter, hailing the “good news from Vilnius”.

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