Joint press conference

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Many thanks. Dear Ursula, dear Markus, dear Johann. It is great to be here. For me, it's the first time, because last year the schedules didn't fit. And then before that, of course, I was still Prime Minister of the Netherlands. But it's great to be here. I understand this is a great tradition. So, thank you for inviting.

And let me just – maybe before I get into why Germany and why Bavaria plays such a big role, and the European Union, obviously – let me just fill you in, in two minutes, on what happened yesterday.

We had the NATO Defence Ministers in Brussels, and as I said at the presser at the end, I felt a shift in mindset in the room. And the shift in mindset is this. We had years, decades of complaints by the US about the fact that in Europe we were not spending enough on defence. That has changed with the Summit in The Hague. The shift in mindset is that yesterday in the room, what we felt, all of us – and there was a clear coming together of vision and of unity – is Europe really stepping up. Europe taking more of a leadership role within NATO. Europe also taking more care of its own defence.

And this is really a staggering change, and this will make NATO stronger, because it means that a strong Europe, in a strong NATO means that the transatlantic bond will be stronger than ever, because we have dealt with that big irritant on the US side, of Europe not doing the same as the Americans were doing, and that is what we are correcting at the moment, and this makes NATO so much stronger.

And I want to thank you, Ursula, for everything you are doing with the European Union to make this possible. I think the cooperation between NATO and the EU probably has never been as strong as it is today. I still remember our first lunch where basically we agreed immediately on everything. And we still do and that is important, the clear division of labour, a strong unity of vision.

And what you are doing also with the support for Ukraine, ramping up the defence industrial base in Europe, making sure the money is there, taking care of everything around logistics, military mobility is crucial.

And then Johann, Germany. Germany is now spending in 2029 twice as much as in 2021. You will ramp up defence spending to over 150 billion euros. This is leading Europe in the right direction. It is the sort of leadership we need from Germany, and you are providing it with your government. But also, when it comes to Ukraine.

And let me tell you about Ukraine and about yesterday: there was widespread support that we have to continue the support for Ukraine and also widespread understanding that we still need to do more for Ukraine, but also an understanding on Ukraine that the Russians are reaping up staggering losses, day in, day out. 35,000 deaths in December. 30,000 deaths in January.

So, where they want us to perceive the Russians as a mighty bear, you could argue that they are moving through Ukraine at the stilted speed of a garden snail. And let's not forget that. Let's not fall in the trap of the Russian propaganda. And here again, Germany leading the way with all the support you are giving to Ukraine.

And then Markus, can I thank you for what Bavaria is doing. For example, the co-production with American companies. You personally being so much invested in the German armed forces. Bavaria being, of course, one of the citadels of production in Europe. You are leading with your state here in Germany, still in Germany, you are really leading the way. And that's extremely important. Thank you for that.