Germany's
defense minister has said she does not see the need to raise military spending
to 2 percent of GDP. Only four of NATO's 28 members currently meet the
alliance's longstanding target for defense spending.
Deutsche Welle, 8 Sep 2014
German
Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen told ARD public television on Sunday
evening that she did not believe Berlin should dramatically increase its
defense budget.
After NATO
Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen called for increased defense spending,
saying "Russia's actions in Ukraine are a wake-up call," the Western
alliance's non-binding defense spending target has come into focus.
Germany
spends 1.3 percent of its gross domestic product on the Bundeswehr, while
NATO's target stands at 2 percent of total economic output.
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| Germany is sending weapons, but not planes or troops, to Iraq |
"We
are a large, economically strong country," von der Leyen told ARD.
"Meaning one should always ask: 'how many percent of what?'" The
defense minister said that Germany remained NATO's "second-largest net
spender," adding that several other countries had seen their GDP decline
in recent years.
"It's
then clear that it is easier to reach the target, if the defense budget doesn't
shrink at the same rate," she added.
However,
von der Leyen also alluded to the possibility of new international efforts
abroad, like continued Bundeswehr involvement in operations against the
self-proclaimed "Islamic State," or NATO's plans for a rapid response
force.
"If we
do now take on new tasks, for instance as a result of the NATO summit [in Wales
on September 4 and 5] or through further involvement in Iraq, then I would need
to talk to parliament about that," von der Leyen said. "But, as I
said, one would have to keep it in proportion."
Only four
members 'on target'
Germany's
perceived lack of readiness both to spend on its military capabilities and to
deploy its troops on international missions has long irked some of its NATO
allies. The US, comfortably NATO's largest military power, spends 4.4 percent
of its GDP on defense, the UK spends 2.4 percent. Greece and Estonia were the
only other members of the 28-country alliance to clear the 2-percent target in
2013.
Germany's
pacifist constitution, drafted soon after World War II, traditionally explained
the country's low defense spending and infrequent participation in foreign military
missions. However, German politicians have debated redefining this role for the
21st century, especially since last year's general elections.
NATO's
Rasmussen pointed to Russia's major investment in the modernization of its
military when urging the alliance to consider higher defense expenditure.
Rasmussen said that over the last five years, Russia had upped defense spending
by around 50 percent, while NATO's had dropped by around 20 percent.
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