Boris Pistorius, Germany’s defense minister, has called on Berlin and Washington to increase military-related expenditure to 3 percent of each country’s gross domestic product.
During a Thursday speech, Pistorius pointed out that neither the United States nor Germany has solved the challenge of producing ammunition at the pace of need. He hinted that Berlin may increase its defense budget in the near future.
“We need more money, there’s no doubt about it, and I think we will rather arrive at 3 percent or even more,” the minister said.
In February, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz committed to spending 2 percent of the nation’s GDP on defense “in the 2020s, in the 2030s and beyond.”
“We Europeans must take much more care of our own security, now and in the future,” he said.
The U.S. spent 2.7 percent of its GDP on defense in 2024, according to data from the Department of Defense.
Pistorius also mentioned the possibility of reintroducing military conscription as the fight between Ukraine and Russia continues.
The defense minister said suspending conscription at the end of the Cold War was a huge mistake. He added that Berlin needs to ensure that its military’s staying power remains in a state of national or collective defense.
