Germany and its NATO partners are prepared to defend every inch of the alliance's territory, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Thursday at a military ceremony in Vilnius to mark the establishment of a German brigade in Lithuania.

Anyone who challenges NATO must know that we are prepared,” he said. “Anyone who threatens an ally must know that the entire alliance will jointly defend every inch of NATO territory. Protecting Vilnius is protecting Berlin.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz for the first time publicly advocated spending up to 5% of the German economy on defense.