Name: NATO chief praises Germany as it aims for most capable army in Europe
Uploaded: 2025-12-12T08:20:58.733Z
Duration: 2 min 22 s
Description: While Washington seems inclined to tilt towards Moscow, Germany is rearming and may soon have the strongest army in Europe.

While Washington seems inclined to tilt towards Moscow, Germany is rearming and may soon have the strongest army in Europe.

Berlin

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte visited Berlin and praised Germany's commitment to reach 3.5% defense spending by 2029, positioning itself as a leading force within NATO. The visit highlighted the need for stronger European security cooperation in response to Russia's ongoing aggression in Ukraine and the prospect of reduced US security commitments in Europe.

European leaders acknowledged the necessity of a unified strategy and increased defense efforts. Despite Germany's leadership, Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized that Europe still faces significant security challenges, with Ukraine's financial support only secured through the first quarter of 2026 amid rising pressures from both Washington and Moscow.

NATO chief praises Germany as it aims for 'most capable army in Europe'

NATO Secretary-General Merkel was received in Berlin by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Given Russia's continued aggression in Ukraine and its escalating hybrid attacks on Europe, NATO's European partners need to adopt a common strategy. We know that we have to do a lot more for our security in Europe than in the past. This has become very clear at the NATO summit in the hometown of NATO Secretary-General in The Hague. However, the EU faces a significant challenge. US President Donald Trump recently announced that he wanted to scale back from security commitments in Europe, requiring EU member states to bolster their own defences. Politically, Europe must also speak with a more unified voice. The first draft of the US-authored peace plan largely excluded Ukrainian and European interests, and the EU was initially not involved in the negotiations. I pointed out that the EU as an institution in Washington is obviously not properly organized. During my visit in June, I tried to explain the history of the EU and its founding, but the US government still has a hard time understanding the EU as a state alliance. And here again, Germany is taking the lead. The fact that Germany has decided to reach that 3.5% in 2029, six years before 2035, is huge. Rutte acknowledges that for the security of the entire alliance, strong cooperation with NATO is necessary. We know we can count on Germany, and Germany can count on NATO. Dear Federal Chancellor, dear Friedrich, I am looking forward to our further cooperation. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte praises Germany as a leading force in NATO, but Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz says that Europe still has a lot to do in terms of security. After his talks with US President Donald Trump, it turns out that Ukraine is financially secured for the first quarter of 2026, but not for the whole year, and the pressure from Washington and Moscow is rising. Diana Resnick, from Berlin, for euronews.

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