Joint press conference

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(As delivered)

Friedrich, thank you for the warm welcome. And it is great to be back in Berlin.

At our Summit in The Hague last month, Allies made decisions that will fuel a quantum leap for our collective defence.
With an agreement to indeed invest a historic 5% of GDP in defence.

This is necessary to respond to the profound security threats we face. From a resurgent Russia, terrorism, cyberattacks, sabotage and fierce global competition.

And this is also an important commitment by European Allies and Canada to rebalance defence spending with the United States.
And put, therefore, an end to the decades of debates about fair burden sharing.

The Summit in The Hague laid the foundations for a stronger, a fairer and a more lethal NATO.
And I want to thank you personally, Friedrich, for your leadership. You supported this important goal from the beginning.
In The Hague, you announced that Germany wants to reach the 3.5% for core defence requirements not in 2035, but already in 2029.

And that means Germany will have more than doubled its defence spending within a few years. From about 70 billion a couple of years ago to 150 billion euros in 2029.
And this is exactly the resolve we need.

As a leading European power, it is right, and welcome, that Germany is ready to shoulder its share of the contributions needed to ensure our shared security.
The new capability targets represent an important milestone for both the Alliance and for the Bundeswehr. Meeting them will greatly increase the strength of your forces.
And your contributions are already crucial for our shared security.

Germany leads our forward land forces in Lithuania – which you are building up to a full brigade. You conduct air patrols over the Baltic skies, and you contribute vital maritime support to secure key supply routes and critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea.

Germany is also the largest European contributor of military assistance to Ukraine. Supporting the Ukrainian people, so they can defend their freedom today and deter further aggression in the future.

To support Ukraine and to ensure our militaries have the equipment and the ammunition they need – we have to enhance our defence industrial capacity on both sides of the Atlantic. And Germany’s defence industry plays a crucial role.

Your world-class industries and entrepreneurs are capable to ramp up production, innovate and deliver.
But none of us need to do this alone. Transatlantic defence cooperation makes all of us stronger and safer.

We see evidence here in Germany – including with the new PATRIOT factory in Bavaria. And the production of parts for the F-35 fighter jet in North Rhine-Westphalia.
And this not only to boost our security. It creates jobs on both sides of the Atlantic.

So, indeed, as you said. We have a lot to do. I know I can count on Germany, I can count on you personally.
And Germany can count on a strong and united NATO.

Later today, we will mark the 70th anniversary of the Federal Republic of Germany’s accession to NATO. And I am very much looking forward to this ceremony to celebrate Germany´s success story that continues today.

Chancellor Merz, lieber Friedrich, thank you once again for your commitment to our Alliance.

And for your warm welcome here in Berlin today.