By Tim Stickings For Mailonline and Afp
Published: 14:44 GMT, 19 March 2019 | Updated: 14:54 GMT, 19 March 2019
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Germany's military spending is set to fall below its NATO targets, in the latest flashpoint in Berlin's long-running row with Washington.
The latest German budget plans, revealed on Monday, will see defence spending drop well below the two per cent of GDP expected from NATO members.
U.S. ambassador Richard Grenell said the cuts were a 'worrisome signal', while President Donald Trump has repeatedly accused Germany of freeloading on U.S. military might.
But German Chancellor Angela Merkel rejected the U.S. criticism, saying Germany will not cut foreign aid to raise military spending.
U.S. ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell, pictured in Geneva yesterday, said Berlin's planned defence cuts were a 'worrisome signal'
Merkel said today that 'we will continue our effort' in terms of raising defence spending, 'but not at the