German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Germany will strengthen defense industrial cooperation with the Baltic states as European allies step up efforts to bolster security against the growing threat from Russia.

Speaking in Berlin after talks with the leaders of Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania, Merz said Germany wants NATO to become "more European" while preserving its transatlantic character.

He stressed that European countries are making substantial investments in their own defense capabilities, adding that the security of the Baltic states is closely linked to both Germany's national security and Europe's broader security architecture.

Merz noted that Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania have already exceeded NATO's target of allocating 3.5 percent of GDP to core defense spending, a goal agreed upon at last year's NATO Summit in The Hague. He said Germany aims to reach the same benchmark by 2029.

In a post on X following the meeting, Merz said Russia is testing NATO's eastern flank on a daily basis, underscoring the need for Europe to increase defense spending and expand cooperation in the defense industry.

The meeting came as NATO members continue to reinforce military preparedness and deepen industrial cooperation in response to heightened security concerns across Eastern Europe. (ILKHA)