US President-elect Donald Trump has sparked controversy by suggesting that NATO’s European members should increase their defence spending to 5% of their gross domestic product (GDP), a proposal that is more than double the current target of 2%. The suggestion, made during a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida on Tuesday evening, has drawn sharp criticism from several German politicians.

Trump, who has repeatedly urged NATO countries to boost their defence spending, stated that NATO members were contributing too little to the alliance’s military efforts. “Europe is in for a tiny fraction of the money that we’re in,” Trump told reporters, emphasizing that NATO members “can all afford it” and should increase their defence budgets to 5%, rather than the 2% target currently set by NATO.

None of NATO’s 32 members are currently spending 5% of GDP on defence, with Poland leading at 4.12%, followed by Estonia at 3.43%, and the US at 3.38%, according to NATO data.

In response, Ralf Stegner, a member of Germany’s Social Democrat Party (SPD), described Trump’s comments as “delusional and absolutely insane.” He added, “We don’t need more weapons in the world, but fewer,” in a post on Facebook. Marcus Faber, the chairman of the defence committee in Germany’s parliament, also rejected the 5% target, suggesting instead that NATO members should agree on a new goal beyond the 2% benchmark, with 3% being a more reasonable target.

Free Democratic Party (FDP) politician Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmerman took a similar stance, criticizing Trump’s approach as an attempt to push European NATO members into financial commitments that would primarily benefit US industry. “We are not at a bazaar here,” Strack-Zimmerman remarked, urging Trump to avoid inventing numbers out of thin air.

Trump’s latest call is not his first on this matter. During his previous presidency, he repeatedly threatened to pull the US out of NATO if European allies failed to increase their defence spending. Over the past few years, NATO’s European members have increased their defence budgets, largely due to the heightened security concerns following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

NATO has estimated that 23 of its 32 members, including 16 from the EU, will meet the 2% GDP spending target by 2024, a significant rise from just six countries in 2021. Germany is expected to meet the 2% target for the first time this year, following Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s 2022 commitment to overhaul the country’s military.

As NATO’s new leadership emphasizes the need for higher defence spending, German politicians continue to debate the ideal level of investment. Some, like Green party chancellor candidate Robert Habeck, are advocating for 3.5% in the coming years. However, Friedrich Merz, leader of the opposition Christian Democratic Union (CDU), believes the specific target is less important than ensuring adequate military readiness.

Mark Rutte, NATO’s new chief, has warned that the current 2% target is insufficient, urging European citizens to make sacrifices, including cuts to pensions and health systems, to ensure the alliance’s security needs are met.

A powerful earthquake struck Tibet on Tuesday, killing at least 126 people and injuring 188 others, as rescue workers continue to search for survivors in the affected areas. The 7.1 magnitude quake, which hit the northern foothills of the Himalayas at around 09:00 local time, caused extensive damage, with more than 1,000 buildings reported as destroyed.

The earthquake, centered in Tingri county, near Mount Everest, was felt in neighboring Nepal and parts of India. Chinese state media reported that the earthquake’s impact was devastating, with significant destruction seen in Shigatse, Tibet’s second-largest city. Videos aired by China’s state broadcaster CCTV showed collapsed buildings, rubble-filled streets, and rescue teams distributing blankets to those displaced by the tremors.

Temperatures in the region were already plummeting, with forecasts predicting lows of -16°C (3.2°F) overnight, adding to the challenges faced by both survivors and rescuers. “Here the houses are made from dirt, so when the earthquake came, many houses collapsed,” said Sangji Dangzhi, a local supermarket owner whose home was damaged. He described ambulances rushing the injured to nearby hospitals throughout the day.

As the search for survivors continues, authorities are contending with disrupted power and water supplies, and aftershocks continue to shake the region. More than 40 aftershocks were recorded in the first hours following the initial earthquake, adding to the instability. Though there is a risk of another quake, Chinese officials have stated that the likelihood of a larger earthquake is low.

The epicenter of the quake lies in Tingri county, a popular base for climbers preparing to ascend Mount Everest. Scheduled sightseeing tours were cancelled, and tourists were evacuated to safety as a precaution.

The quake’s impact has been felt beyond Tibet, with neighboring Nepal experiencing strong tremors, although no major casualties or damage were reported. In the aftermath, many residents in Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital, recalled the deadly 2015 earthquake, which claimed nearly 9,000 lives.

In Tibet, the Shigatse region, which is home to 800,000 people, has been the focal point of recovery efforts. The region is also the spiritual seat of the Panchen Lama, one of Tibetan Buddhism’s most important figures. The exiled Dalai Lama offered his condolences, expressing his deep sorrow for the victims and wishing for the swift recovery of the injured.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for all-out search and rescue operations, and the Chinese air force has deployed drones to assist in the relief efforts. Meanwhile, rescue teams continue to work under extreme conditions, racing against the clock to locate survivors before the freezing temperatures set in.