In Tallin, Gabriel expresses doubts on NATO defence spending target

Germany's Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel addresses a news conference in Vienna, Austria February 27, 2017. REUTERS/Heinz-Peter Bader

TALLIN (Reuters) - German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel told reporters in Estonia on Wednesday that NATO had not agreed on every nation in the alliance having to meet a rigid target of spending 2 percent of its gross domestic product on defence.

"I have a concern that politicians make public promises that they can't fulfil later on," Gabriel said. He said that NATO had merely agreed that member nations would make efforts to reach the 2 percent target.