Angela Merkel, stressing that it is important the cooperation with Moscow in the fight against islamist terrorism.
“The common battle against islamic terrorism is an area in which we have the same interests and we can work together,” said Merkel in her speech at the Munich Conference for Security, while the audience was the vice president of the united states, Mike Pence.
Merkel, who has criticised the us refusal of entry to citizens from seven countries with a predominantly muslim population, stressed that islam is not the source of terrorism. He added that it is crucial to include muslim countries in the battle against the islamist terrorism.
Germany, which is under increasing pressure to increase its military expenditure, it will do “everything possible” to meet the target of NATO to spend 2% of GDP on defence until 2024, said Merkel speaking at the conference.
The German chancellor also said that he would like to discuss with Russia the issue of cyber attacks and fake news, but added that it is questionable whether the problem of false news could be successfully treated before the elections that will be held this year in Europe.
“We know that Russia shall disclose quite openly that it considers the hybrid warfare form of defense,”said Merkel when asked about the issue of fake news.
“If I were to express a desire, I would say that it is very good to put this theme in, for example, on the agenda in talks NATO and Russia,” he added.
The fight against terrorism and cyber attacks to put on the agenda with Russia-Merkel
—