Vilnius (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – During a visit to Vilnius on Thursday, Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that Germany and its allies are committed to defending every inch of NATO territory, highlighting the deployment of a German brigade to Lithuania to bolster the alliance’s eastern front.
The visit occurs as NATO leaders gear up for a meeting next month to establish new objectives for addressing capability gaps and determining the appropriate defence spending for members following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
President Donald Trump has criticised NATO commitments, arguing that the United States bears too large a share of the costs for European security.
How does Germany view its NATO responsibilities today?
“Together with our partners, we are determined to defend the alliance territory against any aggression. The security of our Baltic allies is also our security,”
Merz briefed journalists.
Concerning the summit’s objectiv
es, Merz stated: “European defence capabilities must be strengthened in the long term, and our defence industry must expand its capacities”.
Merz stated that Germany is making significant investments in its military domestically, in addition to sending hundreds of Bundeswehr soldiers to Lithuania. He emphasised the necessity of NATO’s unity in the face of Russian aggression.
“We stand firmly alongside Ukraine, but we also stand together as Europeans as a whole, and we play as a team with the U.S. whenever possible,”
Merz said.
How is NATO preparing for the upcoming summit?
The World Forum venue in The Hague, Netherlands, will host the NATO Summit scheduled for June 24 to 25, 2025. The Netherlands will host its initial NATO summit as one of the founding members of the organisation. Around 8,500 participants will attend the summit, which includes 45 heads of state, 45 foreign ministers, 45 defence ministers, 6,000 delegates, 500 public forum visitors, and 2,000 journalists.
What defence goals will be set at the summit?
The summit’s core purpose involves enhancing NATO’s defence strength and responding to the fast-evolving security situation. Attendees at the summit will talk about defence budget allocation through suggestions that member states should increase their funding to 5% of national GDP and maintain ongoing financial support for Ukraine during the current Russo-Ukrainian War.
