{"id":2463560,"date":"2025-07-18T14:29:02","date_gmt":"2025-07-18T18:29:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/german-chancellor-admits-europeans-were-free-riders-on-defense\/"},"modified":"2025-07-18T14:30:46","modified_gmt":"2025-07-18T18:30:46","slug":"german-chancellor-admits-europeans-were-free-riders-on-defense","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/german-chancellor-admits-europeans-were-free-riders-on-defense\/","title":{"rendered":"German chancellor admits Europeans were &#8216;free riders&#8217; on defense"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fgerman-chancellor-admits-europeans-were-free-riders-on-defense%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2463560&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has admitted that European countries have been &#8220;free riders&#8221; relying heavily on U.S. military power for their defense and security without sufficiently contributing themselves. Speaking during an interview on the BBC&#8217;s Today program, Merz suggested that while former U.S. presidents provided clear commitment to Europe&#8217;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.<\/p>\n<p>Merz made these remarks during a visit to the United Kingdom, where Germany and the UK signed the kensington Treaty, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/oliver-l-north-be-prepared\/\" title=\"Oliver L. North: Be Prepared!\">mutual defense agreement<\/a> that includes military support in case of armed attacks, as well as cooperation on issues like immigration, trade, and student exchanges.<\/p>\n<p>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 &#8220;take care of their own&#8221; security needs. This comes as the U.S. administration considers tariffs on European goods amid ongoing tensions.<\/p>\n<p>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.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Germany admits Europeans were &lsquo;free riders&rsquo; on defense and national security<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2173662\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/friedrich-merz\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Chancellor of Germany Friedrich Merz<\/a> acknowledges that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/europe\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">European powers<\/a> were enjoying the benefits of U.S. military power without meaningfully contributing to their own defense.<\/p>\n<p>The&nbsp;BBC&rsquo;s <em>Today<\/em> program <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/BBCr4today\/status\/1946125288733315329\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">published an interview<\/a> with the German leader on Friday in which he was asked if President Donald Trump was &ldquo;indifferent&rdquo; to the fate of Europe. Merz stopped short of saying Trump is indifferent, but said the leader is &ldquo;not as clear and as committed as former U.S. presidents.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3475557\/north-korea-beach-resort-bans-foreigners\/\">North Korea bans foreigners from beach resort after first round of Russian tourists<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3475445\/fighting-resumes-southern-syria-bedouin\/\">Fighting resumes in southern Syria after massive mobilization by pro-government Bedouin tribes<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/premium\/3473606\/tyrants-need-buffers-chinese-communist-party-hong-kong\/\">Tyrants need buffers: China is not a monolith. That&#8217;s an opportunity for the West.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;We are all looking for more [independence] from American defense. We know that we have to do more on our own,&rdquo; Merz admitted. &ldquo;We have been free riders in the past, and the Americans guaranteed our freedom and our security.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">German Chancellor Friedrich Merz attends a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ioc-president-will-not-add-fuel-to-summer-olympics-cancellation-rumors\/\" title=\"IOC president will \u2018not add fuel\u2019 to Summer Olympics cancellation rumors\">joint press conference<\/a> with Romanian President Nicu&#537;or Dan at the chancellory in Berlin, Germany, Friday, July 18, 2025. (AP Photo\/Ebrahim Noroozi)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>He continued, &ldquo;Understandably, they are not willing to do that any longer, and they are asking us to do more. And we are doing more.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The German chancellor made the comments while in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/united-kingdom\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">United Kingdom<\/a> to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/as-china-threat-grows-congress-looks-to-arm-taiwan\/\" title=\"As China Threat Grows, Congress Looks to Arm Taiwan\">strengthen military cooperation<\/a> between the two nations.<\/p>\n<p>He joined <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/keir-starmer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">British Prime Minister Keir Starmer <\/a>on Thursday in signing the Kensington Treaty, an accord compelling the countries to &ldquo;assist one another, including by military means, in case of an armed attack on the other.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>European nations are scrambling to establish and reaffirm defense agreements following Trump&rsquo;s mercurial treatment of the old continent. The president has long accused the Europeans of &ldquo;ripping off&rdquo; the United States.<\/p>\n<p>The White House is currently weighing a 30% tariff on goods from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/european-union\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">European Union<\/a>. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt claims European governments are working with the administration to find &ldquo;ways to lower their tariff and their non-tariff barriers that we have long said harm our workers and our companies&rdquo; ahead of Trump&rsquo;s Aug. 1 deadline.<\/p>\n<p>Merz attributed the White House&rsquo;s pivot away from Europe to growing concerns in East Asia, specifically the People&rsquo;s Republic of China.<\/p>\n<p>Many of Trump&rsquo;s closest allies have alluded to the Chinese Communist Party as the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >ultimate long-term enemy<\/a> against U.S. interests. Vice President JD Vance <a href=\"https:\/\/www.voanews.com\/a\/vice-presidential-nominee-vance-calls-china-biggest-threat-to-our-country-\/7701298.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">previously called China<\/a> the &ldquo;biggest threat to our country.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, second right, talks to soldiers in the &ldquo;Forest of Remembrance&rdquo; during his first visit to the Operational Command of the Bundeswehr in Brandenburg, Schwielowsee, Saturday, June 28, 2025. (Michael Kappeler\/DPA via AP, Pool)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&ldquo;I am observing that the Americans have, for years now, have been moving away from Europe and turning to Asia,&rdquo; Merz said. &ldquo;This &hellip; 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.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;And that&rsquo;s the reason why they are telling us, &lsquo;Take care for your own,&rsquo; and we are doing it,&rdquo; he added.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3454759\/germany-merz-us-trade-eu-trump-trade-deal\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">GERMANY&rsquo;S MERZ PUSHES EU FOR URGENCY IN TRUMP TRADE DEAL NEGOTIATIONS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Last month, Trump <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/opinion\/beltway-confidential\/3453438\/increase-nato-defense-spending-trump-leadership-mark-rutte-praise\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">negotiated an agreement<\/a> with other North Atlantic Treaty Organization member countries to require at least 5% of each nation&rsquo;s GDP to be spent on defense and national security.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2173662\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2173662\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Germany admits Europe relied on US defense without contributing<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3468,"featured_media":2463561,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/AP25199527220385.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[37747,3998,32233,59422,3946],"class_list":["post-2463560","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-chancellor","tag-defense","tag-european-union","tag-free-riders","tag-germany"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/AP25199527220385.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2463560","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3468"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2463560"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2463560\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2463564,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2463560\/revisions\/2463564"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2463561"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2463560"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2463560"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2463560"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}