German Chancellor Angela Merkel speaks during a session at the lower house of parliament Bundestag in Berlin, Germany, September 12, 2018. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke

VILNIUS (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Friday that the NATO military alliance has no choice but to improve its defense capabilities.

“It is unavoidable for NATO to boost its defense alliance,” she told a news conference in Vilnius.