German chancellor admits Europeans were ‘free riders’ on defense
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has admitted that European countries have been “free riders” relying heavily on U.S. military power for their defense and security without sufficiently contributing themselves. Speaking during an interview on the BBC’s Today program, Merz suggested that while former U.S. presidents provided clear commitment to Europe’s security, current leadership under Donald Trump is less clear and less committed. He acknowledged that the U.S. is now urging Europe to take more responsibility for its own defense,and Europe is beginning to do so.
Merz made these remarks during a visit to the United Kingdom, where Germany and the UK signed the kensington Treaty, a mutual defense agreement that includes military support in case of armed attacks, as well as cooperation on issues like immigration, trade, and student exchanges.
The shift in U.S. focus away from Europe toward challenges in East Asia, especially regarding China, has prompted demands for Europe to bolster its own military efforts. Merz noted that the U.S. is pivoting toward Asia due to strategic competition with China,and this has led American policymakers to encourage Europeans to “take care of their own” security needs. This comes as the U.S. administration considers tariffs on European goods amid ongoing tensions.
Additionally, NATO members recently agreed to increase defense spending to at least 5% of GDP to strengthen security and cybersecurity capabilities, highlighting increased urgency for Europe to contribute more substantially to its defense.
Germany admits Europeans were ‘free riders’ on defense and national security
Chancellor of Germany Friedrich Merz acknowledges that European powers were enjoying the benefits of U.S. military power without meaningfully contributing to their own defense.
The BBC’s Today program published an interview with the German leader on Friday in which he was asked if President Donald Trump was “indifferent” to the fate of Europe. Merz stopped short of saying Trump is indifferent, but said the leader is “not as clear and as committed as former U.S. presidents.”
“We are all looking for more [independence] from American defense. We know that we have to do more on our own,” Merz admitted. “We have been free riders in the past, and the Americans guaranteed our freedom and our security.”
He continued, “Understandably, they are not willing to do that any longer, and they are asking us to do more. And we are doing more.”
The German chancellor made the comments while in the United Kingdom to strengthen military cooperation between the two nations.
He joined British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday in signing the Kensington Treaty, an accord compelling the countries to “assist one another, including by military means, in case of an armed attack on the other.”
The document also included a hodgepodge of non-military agreements, such as commitments to combating illegal immigration, closer collaboration on joint trade ventures, and simplified visas for exchange students.
European nations are scrambling to establish and reaffirm defense agreements following Trump’s mercurial treatment of the old continent. The president has long accused the Europeans of “ripping off” the United States.
The White House is currently weighing a 30% tariff on goods from the European Union. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt claims European governments are working with the administration to find “ways to lower their tariff and their non-tariff barriers that we have long said harm our workers and our companies” ahead of Trump’s Aug. 1 deadline.
Merz attributed the White House’s pivot away from Europe to growing concerns in East Asia, specifically the People’s Republic of China.
Many of Trump’s closest allies have alluded to the Chinese Communist Party as the ultimate long-term enemy against U.S. interests. Vice President JD Vance previously called China the “biggest threat to our country.”
“I am observing that the Americans have, for years now, have been moving away from Europe and turning to Asia,” Merz said. “This … pivot to Asia is happening, and there are other places in the world the Americans are interested in, and they are seeing themselves in a very hard competition with China.”
“And that’s the reason why they are telling us, ‘Take care for your own,’ and we are doing it,” he added.
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Last month, Trump negotiated an agreement with other North Atlantic Treaty Organization member countries to require at least 5% of each nation’s GDP to be spent on defense and national security.
The first 3.5% of that spending is intended for conventional military expenses such as personnel, artillery, and air defense. The other 1.5% is intended for infrastructure and cybersecurity.
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