Germany's foreign minister urged France to enhance its defence budget to achieve European self-sufficiency in security amid rising concerns over transatlantic ties.
Germany's foreign minister, Johann Wadephul, has called on France to elevate its defence spending to secure European self-sufficiency as global dynamics shift. His remarks come in light of increasing uncertainty surrounding the transatlantic alliance, particularly regarding the commitment of the United States to defend NATO allies. Wadephul emphasized that for European nations to genuinely pursue sovereignty in defence, they must back their rhetoric with concrete action—in this case, a bolstered military budget by France.
In his comments during an interview with Germany's public broadcaster Deutschlandfunk, Wadephul noted that French President Emmanuel Macron has often discussed the pursuit of European sovereignty. However, he argued that such discussions must translate into actual fiscal commitment from France, highlighting the essential role the country plays within NATO and the broader European context. The pressure on European nations to fortify their military capabilities has intensified lately, raising questions about dependency on U.S. military support amidst evolving international relationships.
The NATO summit last June set ambitious goals, urging member countries to boost their defence budgets to 2% of their GDP by 2024 and to reach 5% by 2035. However, Wadephul expressed concerns that progress has been slow, compelling European nations, particularly France, to re-evaluate their defence strategies to ensure collective security and readiness in the event of conflicts, especially given the shifting geopolitical landscape.
