German Free Democratic Party (FDP) leader Christian Lindner does not initially consider it necessary to increase Germany’s defense spending beyond two percent of its economic output. He believes one should take US President Donald Trump seriously but not literally when he demands five percent of the economy be spent on defense, Lindner told the Funke Media Group’s Sunday editions.
“The US itself allocates less than 3.5 percent for defense. We should wait and see what the NATO agrees upon.”Germany’s current NATO target of two percent, Lindner says, is being “overfulfilled”by the country. “Our task is first to ensure this is the case not just until 2028, but also beyond.