US President-elect Donald Trump is calling on NATO partners to spend five percent of their economic output on defense in the future. In an interview with ZDF, IFSH arms control expert Dr. Ulrich Kühn explains what this would mean for Germany. According to the peace researcher, this is more of a “fantasy figure,” intended as a signal from the future Trump administration that the EU should make its defense policy more independent from the US. The debate about higher defense spending within NATO is more complex than generally assumed. Although the media focuses on the figure, the main issue is actually the appropriate use of funds, Kühn argues. However, it is also clear that the upcoming challenges and military investments will not be possible without new debt.
The article “Fünf Prozent für Verteidigung. Wie ernstzunehmend ist Trumps Nato-Forderung” was published on zdf.de on January 8, 2025, and is available here.
Ulrich Kühn also spoke to RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland (RND) on the same topic. The article “Europa droht Zerreißprobe. Panamakanal, Grönland, Militärausgaben: Geht Trumps ‘taktischer Kniff’ auf?” from January 9, 2025, is available here.
©IFSH/Felix Matthies
