NATO’s Stoltenberg Tells Germany to Pay its Share on Defense

Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Jan. 14, 2015On Monday, the eve of the 60th anniversary of Germany joining NATO, Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg gently reminded Berlin that the suggested minimum defense spending for alliance members is 2 percent of GDP. Germany, at around 1.2 percent, is spending just 60 percent of the recommended quota.

“I’m addressing all members, but as a major economy, Germany falls short more significantly than others,” the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” quoted Stoltenberg as saying in an interview published on Monday. “The USA gives 4 percent of GDP for defense. In Europe, we’re closer to 1 percent. That is not a fair share….”

“Nobody expects that Germany will do it within the year,” Stoltenberg told the Süddeutsche. “We expect that Germany will stop the curtailments and gradually increase.” He added: “For many years, Germany has profited from security guarantees of collective defense, and now we want to ensure that our eastern members can receive the same benefits.”

Image: Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Jan. 14, 2015 (photo: NATO)