We can't trust Donald Trump to support Europe - Angela Merkel

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called on fellow EU members to spend more money on defence in a thinly-veiled suggestion that Europe will not be able to rely on the USA under Donald Trump.

She did not mention the President-elect by name, but clearly seemed to be referring to Trump's campaign trail comment that he would consider a country's NATO contributions before coming to their aid.

It comes amid growing challenges within Europe, including increasing terrorist threats.

'I am convinced that Europe and the EU must learn to take more responsibility in the world in the future,' Merkel told students in Brussels after receiving honorary doctorate degrees from Belgium's Leuven and Ghent universities.

'Let's not fool ourselves: From the viewpoint of some of our traditional partners, and I'm thinking of transatlantic ties, there is no guarantee of perpetuity for close cooperation with us Europeans. We have to continue to work at that,' she said.

Merkel said in November that Germany must increase defence spending to work toward meeting NATO targets, but played down expectations that this would happen soon.

The EU, which has relied on the United States to guarantee its security for the past seven decades, agreed to take initial steps toward expanded security and defence cooperation at a summit in December.

Merkel did not mention the President-elect by name, but clearly seemed to be referring to Trump's campaign trail comment that he would consider a country's contributions to the NATO alliance before coming to their aid

Merkel did not mention the President-elect by name, but clearly seemed to be referring to Trump's campaign trail comment that he would consider a country's contributions to the NATO alliance before coming to their aid

They called for an overhaul of the way the military operations are funded, including pooling and sharing of helicopters, weapons systems and other assets.

Facing criticism at home for her 'open door' refugee policy, Merkel also said Europe needed to accelerate its work on an entrance and exit registry to get a better grip on its borders.

She urged EU members to compromise on issues such as illegal immigration, including quicker efforts to return migrants who entered Europe illegally and were denied asylum.

 
-mailonline