German election: Military defence spending gets political

By the end of this week, Angela Merkel could become German chancellor for a fourth term. With uncertainty about the direction of the United States, many countries are increasingly looking to Germany to provide stable global leadership.

By the end of this week, Angela Merkel could become German chancellor for a fourth term.

With uncertainty about the direction of the United States, many countries are increasingly looking to Germany to provide stable global leadership.

But Germans remain wary of backing up their political power with military spending.

Al Jazeera’s Laurence Lee reports from central Germany.