Spend on defense, Merkel's allies say, widening gap with SPD

Chancellor Angela Merkel's Bavarian sister party (CSU) has proposed increasing Germany's defense spending to a level that widens a policy gap with the Social Democrats (SPD) ahead of talks on forming a governing coalition. A deal between Merkel's conservative camp and the center-left (SPD) is her best chance of securing a fourth term in office but her possible coalition partners are angling for concessions before talks start in the new year. The CSU said in a draft resolution seen by Reuters on Friday it wanted defense spending to reach NATO's target of 2 percent of national output and more money spent on the military, drones and transportation infrastructure.

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