Foreign Minister Wadephul Declares Germany Supports 5% of GDP NATO Defense Target

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul told Welt am Sonntag on May 16 that Germany formally supports raising the NATO defense spending target to 5% of GDP — a figure championed by the Trump administration ahead of the July Ankara Summit. Wadephul stated Germany was ready to assume a 'leading role' in NATO burden-sharing and framed the commitment as part of Germany's post-Zeitenwende strategic transformation. Germany already reached 2.3% of GDP in 2025 and has pledged 3.5% by 2029 under its €100B Sondervermögen fund. The statement marked Germany's most ambitious public NATO commitment since the Cold War and came days before Wadephul traveled to Helsingborg for NATO foreign ministers talks.