Germany Calls on France to Increase Defense Spending

The German Foreign Minister, Johannes Wadefuhl, has urged France to increase its defense spending, stating that the current level is insufficient to achieve European sovereignty. He made this remark during an interview on the Deutschlandfunk radio station.

Wadefuhl noted that French President Emmanuel Macron has repeatedly emphasized the necessity of European sovereignty, but according to him, this stance should be accompanied by appropriate actions at the national level as well. The German minister assessed that the measures taken by France are still not adequate.

Meanwhile, the Bundestag has approved an increase in the 2026 defense budget, reaching approximately 108 billion euros, set to be confirmed in November 2025. This marks the highest figure for Germany's defense sector since the end of the Cold War. It is expected that a significant portion of the funds will be allocated for the procurement of military equipment and ammunition, including through credit financing.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump had previously criticized European countries for low defense investments within NATO, calling for expenditures to reach 5% of GDP. Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth, on the other hand, stated that the U.S. does not currently plan to reduce its military presence in Europe.