German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that Germany is committed to the NATO target of spending 2% of a country's gross domestic product on defense, but is realistic about reaching it.
Merkel underlined Germany's plan to reach 1.5% by 2024. She said after meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg that "sometimes this may seem too slow but things are going in the right direction."
NATO members agreed in 2014 to "move toward the 2% guideline within a decade." Merkel said Berlin is complying with that, and added: "We accept this target, but we are also giving realistic information," Associated Press reported.
NATO Secretary General said he's glad Germany's spending is rising but added: "I encourage Germany to do more, because Germany is the biggest economy in Europe."\
In addition, Merkel noted that the NATO summit would yield "firm results". "I think that in spite of existing differences in opinions, we will have a very constructive summit during which we will also make important decisions," she said.
