Tysklands reaktion på USA:s strategiska skifte mot Asien | NTD NYHETER

I'm observing that the Americans, for years now, moving away from Europe and turning to Asia. This, so to say, how is it said, pivot to Asia, is happening. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz sees that the driving force behind the US strategic shifts towards the Indo-Pacific region is clearly aimed at China. According to him, the US is in a very tough competition with China. After realizing this reality, Merz says that it is time for Europe to take responsibility for itself and to start immediately. To implement this agreement in action, Germany accepted on Thursday a historical bilateral treaty with Great Britain, the so-called Kensington Treaty. The treaty contains an important promise that both countries will stand by each other in the event of an armed attack. The treaty deepens the defense cooperation between the countries and continues to build on the Trinity House Agreement from October, the first comprehensive German-British defense agreement. Peace through force is a central part of Chancellor Merz's reform agenda. At his first summer press conference as Chancellor, Merz made his message clear and said, This message was repeated by the German Foreign Minister when he was in Paris to deepen ties with France. This statement comes at the same time as the EU approved its 18th sanction package against Russia on July 18 due to the war in Ukraine. Alongside the EU's so far toughest sanctions, Europe's superpowers are also raising their defense spending. They plan to increase their defense spending to 5% of GDP with 3.5% earmarked for the hard defense, i.e. weapons, equipment and troops. Germany has promised to increase its defense spending to 3.5% of GDP since 2029, the country's most ambitious rearmament since the end of the Cold War.