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Germany will not reach defence spending target of 3.5% in 2029

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on November 19, 2025

1 min read

· Last updated: January 20, 2026

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Germany will not reach defence spending target of 3.5% in 2029
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MUNICH (Reuters) -Germany will not hit its own 3.5% defence spending target in 2029, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said on Wednesday, as the country ramps up spending in the wake of Russia's war

Germany's 2029 Defence Spending Target Unlikely to be Met

MUNICH (Reuters) -Germany will not hit its own 3.5% defence spending target in 2029, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said on Wednesday, as the country ramps up spending in the wake of Russia's war with Ukraine.

Germany's defence spending will only be 3.05% of gross domestic product that year, Pistorius said in Munich. 

That is less than the 3.5% pledged by Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil earlier this year.

A NATO summit in The Hague this year agreed that allies will reach a new spending target of 5% of GDP by 2035. The target is made up of 3.5% in the defence budget, and another 1.5% of defence-related spending.

(Reporting by Alexander Huebner and Sabine Siebold; writing by Tom Sims; editing by Rod Nickel)

Key Takeaways

  • Germany's defence spending will be 3.05% of GDP in 2029.
  • The target was initially set at 3.5% by Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil.
  • A NATO summit set a 5% GDP spending target by 2035.
  • The 5% target includes 3.5% for the defence budget.
  • Germany is increasing spending due to the Ukraine conflict.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is NATO?
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is a military alliance of countries from North America and Europe, established for mutual defense against aggression.
What is economic growth?
Economic growth is the increase in the production of goods and services in an economy over a period, typically measured as the percentage increase in real GDP.

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