In his address at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called on Israel to adhere to international law in Gaza and urged Europe to bolster its military capabilities for self-defense.
Scholz emphasized Germany’s call for Israel to comply with international law amidst the conflict in Gaza and to avoid opening a second front along its northern border with Lebanon. He also highlighted the importance of preventing Iran from exploiting the conflict to expand its influence.
On a European level, Scholz stated that Europe must strengthen its ability to defend itself to deter potential aggressors, regardless of the outcome of the next U.S. elections or the end of the war in Ukraine. He remarked, “As Europeans, we need to take greater care of our security, now and in the future,” according to Reuters.
Scholz mentioned that Germany, the largest economy in Europe, has increased its defense spending to 2% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), fulfilling the target set by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and will continue to meet this goal.
Additionally, Scholz disclosed that Germany is in discussions with its allies, France and the United Kingdom, about developing precision weapons capable of reaching long distances to ensure that its deterrence strategy remains advanced.
