Germany May Raise Below-Average Defense Budget on Russia Threats

Germany may have to lift defense spending to counter future threats by Russia as Europe’s biggest economy faces U.S. pressure to build up its military, an ally of Chancellor Angela Merkel said.

Henning Otte, the parliamentary defense spokesman for Merkel’s Christian Democrats in the lower house, said Germany contributes its fair share to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in missions such as Afghanistan and Kosovo. While spending levels aren’t the priority now, a worsening threat could prompt a debate on diverting more to defense, he said.