German defence minister sees NATO tensions easing

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said he saw signs of easing tensions in trans-Atlantic relations after the first day of the Munich Security Conference.

"The dust has settled. Both sides are seeing things more clearly again," Pistorius told dpa in Munich on Friday.

He said there was growing mutual recognition in the United States and Europe of what must be achieved together within the alliance.

Pistorius said the US Defense Strategy, which downgraded Europe to prioritize homeland defence, Western Hemisphere security and countering China, did not ruffle him, despite causing concern in some European capitals.

"It basically says it all: the expectation from the Americans that we will gradually take on responsibility for conventional deterrence and defence in Europe. That doesn't surprise me," he said.

Pistorius said increases in defence budgets in recent years - "not least, but especially in Germany" - showed that Europe was already moving in that direction.

He said the United States has also stressed its "vital role" in NATO, including nuclear deterrence.

"When you take all of that together, it's clear that both sides have an interest in continuing the alliance," he said, even if it needed to be recalibrated.

Earlier on Friday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the alliance was in need of a reset, but touted its potential.

"Being a part of NATO is not only Europe's competitive advantage. It is also the United States' competitive advantage," Merz said at the security conference.

"So let's repair and revive trans-Atlantic trust together. Europe is doing its part."