Chancellor Friedrich Merz's visit to the Oval Office highlighted Germany's evolving stance on militarization, with President Trump supporting a substantial hike in defense spending. In response to Russia's actions and a perceived decline in U.S. reliability, Germany plans a significant military expansion, including a 60,000 troop increase and new weapon acquisitions. NATO's recent approval to raise spending targets adds pressure, leading to concerns among some officials about the implications of this militarization, particularly the use of debt for funding military enhancements.
"I think it's a good thing," Trump said of the giant ramp-up in military spending, which he demanded from NATO allies. "But... there'll be a point when I'll say, 'Please don't arm anymore.'"
This includes not just plans to acquire new, advanced weapons but also to increase the ranks of the military by 60,000 and... potentially a return to conscription of young people for mandatory service.
For Germany,... that will mean a massive increase - to $177 billion in 2029 from $100 billion in 2025, to meet NATO's target of 3.5 percent on 'core' military expenditures...
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