Stoltenberg revealed Merkel's reaction to the US demand to increase defense spending

Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel reacted with laughter to US President Donald Trump's demand to increase German defense spending to 2% of GDP. Former NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told about this in his book. A fragment of the memoir was published by The Guardian newspaper on October 5.

Stoltenberg clarified that this happened during a personal meeting between Merkel and Trump, when the latter demanded an increase in military spending and added an audacious phrase.

"Angela, you have to fork out," the former NATO Secretary General quotes Trump as saying.

However, Merkel replied that Germany would be able to fulfill such a requirement only by 2030, after which she laughed. Whether she was serious or ironic is unknown.

Make Germany great again: Merz decided to turn the Bundeswehr into the strongest army in Europe

The German Chancellor plans to return the introduction of universal military service, although it is not provided for by the coalition agreement.

Bloomberg reported on July 28 that Germany's defense budget could double (to €162 billion) over the next four years, as Germany seeks to rearm on a large scale and meet NATO targets to increase defense spending to 3.5% of GDP.

The Berliner Zeitung newspaper noted on August 9 that the German authorities had begun to rearm the Bundeswehr in order to create the strongest army in Europe. It was noted that within the framework of this project, Germany plans to submit more than 60 arms purchase contracts to Parliament for approval by the end of the year.

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