Germany’s foreign minister previously stated her familiarity with her US counterpart due to her time studying in Florida.
Germany’s Foreign Office has announced that the European Union, particularly Berlin, is prepared to enhance collaboration with the new US administration and increase military spending.
Following a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock underscored Berlin’s commitment to working with President Trump’s administration, according to a Monday X post. The post quoted Baerbock as saying to Rubio, “Europe is ready to take greater responsibility for its own security.” Discussions reportedly included shared interests, such as NATO and the situations in the Middle East and Ukraine.
Baerbock told Bild last week that her time in Florida was a relevant factor in dealing with Rubio. While she affirmed continued support for Kyiv, the State Department’s account of the Monday call omitted Ukraine from the listed areas of “wide range of mutual interests.”
This announcement follows Trump’s call for NATO members to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP, significantly higher than the current 2% minimum. Berlin announced meeting the 2% target for 2024 last week.
Trump also reiterated his demand for increased EU spending on Ukraine aid at a press conference last week. He stated, “The European Union should be paying a lot more than they’re paying because… We’re in there for $200 billion more than the European Union,” regarding future aid to Kyiv.
Data from Germany’s Kiel Institute shows that, as of October 2024, the EU and UK had contributed approximately €125 billion ($131 billion) in financial and military aid to Ukraine, while the US had allocated about €88 billion ($92 billion). The US Congress has authorized $175 billion total for Ukraine, but a significant portion funds US industries and government activities related to the conflict.
Among his initial actions, Trump suspended US foreign aid for 90 days to review its alignment with his administration’s goals, emphasizing an “America First” policy.
The US president has also pledged to negotiate a resolution to the Ukraine conflict. Trump threatened further sanctions against Russia on Wednesday if Moscow refuses a “deal,” without specifying terms.
Russia has maintained its key demands: Ukraine renounce NATO aspirations, limit its military, remain nuclear-free, and recognize territorial “realities on the ground.” Moscow has indicated openness to dialogue with “legitimate” Ukrainian authorities and the new US administration, but insists any agreement must include “reliable, legally binding agreements eliminating the root causes of the conflict.”