The world mass media reported that Germany owes NATO and the US a massive debt for powerful and expensive defense. The thing is that NATO countries pledged in 2014 to spend 2% of their GDP on defense. However, German contributions fell below 2% over the last 12 years. The US president estimated Germany’s underspending on the alliance over the 12 years and added interest. At the recent summit in Washington DC, US President Donald Trump handed Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel a bill of $375 billion. Trump made a demand during the private talks in the White House.
According to well-informed sources in the German government, Angela Merkel responded to Trump’s claims with equanimity. So the two leaders showed little common ground over this thorny issue. During her visit to Washington, Merkel confirmed Germany’s commitment to the 2% military spending goal.