Germany appears set to abandon its promise to meet the 2%-of-GDP NATO minimum target for defense spending.
Europe’s largest economy and most influential voice in the European Union, Germany has long neglected defense spending. After years of saying it was taking significant steps toward the 2% target, German defense spending remains stuck at about 1.3% of GDP. It doesn’t look like things are going to get any better in the coming years.
Announcing a joint exploratory paper to facilitate coalition negotiations, the leaders of the center-left SPD, center-left Greens, and free market FDP offered a commitment to NATO. But the three parties likely to form the next government made no mention of the 2% target. As Der Spiegel reports, they pledged only to modernize the German military. That modernization is much needed, but unless Germany spends 2% on defense, any modernization program will be woefully inadequate.
We should draw a clear conclusion from this statement.
Germany will continue to be the ultimate freeloader ally. Exceptionally wealthy, and hosting tens of thousands of U.S. military personnel, German taxpayers and politicians are happy to have the U.S. subsidize their social welfare systems. That’s exactly what their refusal to meet the 2% target represents: a choice to put domestic needs before security, and an associated commitment to allies. The Biden administration loves to laud Germany, but it’s hard to understand why they do so.
It’s not all bad from a U.S. perspective.
Green Party leader Annalena Baerbock’s arrival into government, perhaps as foreign minister, should strengthen Germany’s policies toward China and Russia. China is likely to face an increased German challenge over its human rights policies, and Russian President Vladimir Putin will face new scrutiny of his energy blackmail strategy.
Still, this abandonment of the NATO target cannot be ignored. It speaks to a nation that has little interest in standing up for democratic values or standing alongside its allies.
