German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier has criticised growing anti-Americanism among the middle class in Germany, an article in the Sunday edition of Die Welt newspaper reported.
“Those who criticise the United States or its president in the tone of conviction and in the feeling of moral superiority receive applause.
“What was once the hallmark of left-wing pacifists has long since become a middle-class mass sport, but the friendship between Germany and the U.S. should not be broken,’’ he stressed.
According to Altmaier, Germany should do more for its own defence.
He specifically noted that Germany should make a greater contribution to defence in its budget to meet the target of 2 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) set by the NATO defence alliance.
He said Germany had already committed to the 2-per-cent target in 2014 with NATO and former U.S. president Barack Obama.
“Increasing the German defence budget, currently at around 1.2 per cent of GDP, would be”a message that would be heard in the U.S.,’’ Altmaier writes.
Current U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticised Germany for not meeting its financial commitments towards NATO..
An increase in defence spending is the main U.S demand of Germany and other European NATO members.
The defence alliance has an agreement that all members should increase defence spending to the 2-per-cent-of-GDP target.
Germany has pledged to increase its defence spending to 1.5 per cent of GDP by 2024, still well short of the target. (dpa/NAN)