BERLIN, July 3 (Xinhua) -- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Friday that Germany will strengthen defense industrial cooperation with the Baltic States.
Merz made the remarks after meeting in Berlin with the leaders of Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania.
At a joint press conference after the meeting, Merz said Germany wants to make NATO "more European" so that it can remain transatlantic. European countries are therefore investing heavily in their own security, he said.
Merz added that Baltic security has a strong impact on both German and European security.
The Baltic States have already exceeded their target of spending 3.5 percent of GDP on core defense expenditure, which was agreed at last year's NATO summit in The Hague, Merz said, adding that Germany plans to reach the target by 2029. ■