Germany supports the 5% NATO defense spending goal Matt Ford with dpa, AFP

Germany's new government, led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, is considering increasing its defense spending to meet US President Donald Trump's demand of 5% of GDP.

This was indicated by German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul during an informal NATO gathering in Turkey. Current NATO targets require member states to spend at least 2% of GDP on defense, but the US has been pushing for higher contributions from its European allies. While some in Germany's ruling coalition support the idea, there are also voices of caution from the Social Democratic Party (SPD) who view Trump's demands as excessive. The discussion comes as NATO members seek to address concerns about the alliance's collective defense capabilities and the need to deter potential adversaries.