Germany is encouraging other European nations to increase military spending, as the United States withdraws the support traditionally offered to the continent.
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius made the comments over the weekend, following an announcement from the Pentagon that 5000 soldiers will be withdrawn from Germany.
Germany has served as the largest European base for the U.S., but as tensions grow between the States and multiple European nations over the war in Iran and changing tariffs, the Trump administration has begun to pull back its military presence.
“We Europeans must take on more responsibility for our own security,” Pistorius said.
This came shortly after new research found that while U.S military spending decreased last year, Europe drove a record-breaking boost, with Germany leading the charge as the top spender, a move that Pistorius said put them “on the right track”.
