Merkel announces major increase in German defense spending

Dear reader,

so far there isn't an article in English available, so the most important points from Merkel's speech at a conservative party convention will be translated here

Merkel wil defensiebudget verhogen tot 2% vh BNP tot 60 mld. Dat betekent nog eens 20 mld extra. (Stijging v 60%) https://t.co/ViOMAylefX

— Jeroen Akkermans (@JeroenAkkermans) October 15, 2016

As reported by German newspaper Die Zeit:

- Merkel promised president Obama to increase German defense budget to 2% of GDP, because US spends 3.4% and most security obligations/challenges are in Europe's neighborhood

- currently defense spending is roughly 1.2% of GDP

- spending already increased in 2016, but in the coming years will increase more significantly - 20 billion Euros needed in total to achieve target of 2% of GDP