German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized Germany's significant efforts to strengthen its defense capabilities during a meeting with Baltic leaders in Berlin on July 3, 2026. Merz stated, "Germany is doubling its defense budget within four years. This is the greatest efforts we have ever made to strengthen our defense capabilities. In this respect, we have no reason to shy away from anyone."

Merz also noted Germany's role as the European Union's largest member state, saying, "We will state this, with all due modesty, and we are doing so as the European Union's largest member state, bearing a responsibility within Europe."

His remarks came shortly after US President Donald Trump criticized Germany on his Truth Social platform, claiming the NATO defense spending relationship is not "reciprocal" and calling it "ridiculous for the USA to continue along this one sided path." Trump further asserted that Germany's defense spending was "MUCH LOWER between 2014-2025 than the US or other NATO allies."

Merz said he plans to address Germany's defense spending figures at the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, where leaders, including Trump, are expected to reaffirm their "ironclad commitment" to collective defense under NATO's Article 5 mutual defense clause.

Additionally, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda announced during the Berlin press conference that he recently initiated a constitutional amendment to remove restrictions on the possible deployment of nuclear weapons in Lithuania.

Last year, NATO members agreed at a summit in the Netherlands to increase defense and security spending to 5% of GDP by 2035.

Sources