German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Monday dismissed incoming US president Donald Trump's demands that Germany and other NATO allies spend at least 5% of gross domestic product (GDP) on defence. "Five percent would be over €200 billion ($204 billion) per year,

Chancellor Scholz says spending 5% of GDP on defense would require Germany to allocate more than €200 billion ($204 billion) annually on military expenditures - Anadolu Ajansı

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has insisted that he is committed to NATO spending, but that Donald Trump's demands are too high. One other NATO member, however, has welcomed the incoming US President's suggestion.

The leader of Germany's conservative CDU, the party's candidate to run for chancellor, said on Tuesday that the nation should focus on efforts to reach existing NATO defence spending targets before discussing any further increases.

Germany met the NATO alliance's target to spend 2% of its gross domestic product on defence in 2024, a government spokesperson said on Monday, as the country weighs the need to further boost longer-term military funding commitments.