This Monday, February 16, Germany asked European countries, especially France, to adopt austerity measures that allow NATO to achieve its objective of investing 5% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in defense.
In an interview with broadcaster Deutschlandfunk, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul classified the strengthening of military capabilities as existential and sent a direct warning to European Union (EU) partners.
“This appeal is addressed to all European countries. Open and sincere discussions will be necessary. Anyone who talks today about independence from the United States must first do their homework”he stated, quoted by the Spanish agency EFE.
The head of German diplomacy rejected the issuance of common debt to finance the increase in military spending, recalling that the 5% target approved at the NATO summit in The Hague refers to “national benefits”.
Wadephul directly targeted French President Emmanuel Macron, who is expected to speak on strategic topics in February.
“Whoever talks about European sovereignty has to act in their own country. Unfortunately, in the French Republic, efforts have been insufficient”he criticized, suggesting that Paris follow Berlin’s example.
The minister argued that it is necessary to face “difficult debates” and cut social spending and other sectors to guarantee “Europe’s defense capacity”.
Regarding the transatlantic relationship, Wadephul praised the intervention of the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, at the Munich Security Conference, over the weekend.
“Without the United States’ nuclear umbrella we are not capable of defending ourselves, it is the pure reality”he acknowledged.
The minister in Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s conservative government considered that there are no viable alternatives to repairing the alliance with Washington, despite differences with Donald Trump’s administration.
At the Hague summit in June 2025, the 32 members of the Atlantic Alliance committed to an increase in defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035.
The meeting of NATO leaders in the Dutch city was the first after Trump’s return to the presidency of the United States.
In the Hague declaration, the allies justified the decision with “profound threats to security, namely the long-term danger posed by Russia and the persistent threat of terrorism”.
The commitment aims to guarantee NATO’s capacity for tasks that the organization considers fundamental, namely, deterrence and defense, crisis prevention and management, and cooperative security.
The plan foresees at least 3.5% of GDP for fundamental defense resources and meeting NATO capabilities goals.
Up to 1.5% of each country’s GDP will go towards protecting critical infrastructure, defending networks, civil preparedness, innovation and strengthening the defense industrial base.
“The trajectory and balance of these expenses will be reviewed in 2029, taking into account the strategic environment at the time”according to the statement released at the time.
Having reaffirmed the commitment to support Ukraine, “direct contributions to Ukrainian defense and military industry will be counted in the overall defense spending calculation of each North American or European country in the alliance.”
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, known by its acronym in English as NATO, was created in 1949, in the post-Second World War (1939-1945) and as part of the fight against Soviet expansionism.
Portugal is one of the 12 founding countries of NATO, which currently has 32 members, after several enlargements, including to countries from the former Soviet Union.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Finland and Sweden joined NATO in 2023 and 2024, respectively.
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