Germany's likely next leader Friedrich Merz said Thursday urgent action was needed to boost the country's under-resourced military and ailing economy, as he defended plans for a spending bonanza during a fiery parliamentary debate.

Merz's conservatives and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) -- in talks to form a coalition after February's general election -- unveiled the plans for vast extra outlays last week, and are now racing to push them through the current legislature.

"In view of the alarming security situation in Europe in every respect and the growing economic challenges in our country, far-reaching decisions... cannot be postponed any longer," Merz told lawmakers at the start of the debate.

When it came to the armed forces in particular, "any further delay" in boosting spending "would be irresponsible", he said. "We must now take action to significantly increase our defence capabilities, and we must do so quickly."

Fraying Europe-US ties under President Donald Trump have fuelled calls for Germany, long dependent on the US security umbrella, to quickly boost military funding,........

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