Germany’s Scholz wants European allies to up defense spending

He said Germany, often criticized in the past for not spending enough on defense, would meet NATO’s target of spending 2 percent of GDP on the military through “the 2020s, 2030s and beyond.”

Germany is, by far, Ukraine’s leading supporter in terms of military aid in Europe, according to data compiled by the Kiel Institute. Scholz said Germany will give Ukraine an additional €7 billion in military aid this year.

“I very much wish — and this is something that me and some of my colleagues are lobbying for here — that similar decisions will be taken in other capital cities,” Scholz said.

He did acknowledge the political difficulties of boosting defense spending at a time of economic constraints.

“I know this isn’t easy,” said Scholz. “There are critical voices here as well and Moscow is fanning the flames.”

However, the risk of not standing up to Russian President Vladimir Putin is enormous, the chancellor said.