Trump Administration Urges NATO Allies to Raise Defense Spending

The Trump administration warned that NATO allies must increase defense spending immediately or face consequences ahead of a summit this week, @Independent reported. US ambassador to NATO Matt Whitaker said on Sunday that some partners were doing more than others and that President Trump expects all to step up and honor their commitments.

Whitaker stated that Poland, the Nordic countries and the Baltic countries lead the way in defense spending.

He added that many other allies are lagging behind and that President Trump expects all allies to step up immediately and get to 5 percent of GDP spent on defense as soon as possible. NATO leaders will meet in Ankara on Tuesday and Wednesday to review progress made since last year and discuss defense investment and support for Ukraine.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said the gathering will show that Europeans are honoring pledges to increase defense spending to deter Russia, with arms deals worth tens of billions of dollars to be signed.

Rutte stated that NATO is and will always be a transatlantic alliance but needs to be rebalanced and that European allies and Canada are taking greater responsibility for conventional defense in Europe. NATO leaders agreed last year to boost defense-related spending to five percent of GDP by 2035. Britain in June pledged an additional £15bn to transform the armed forces.

US defense secretary Pete Hegseth in June announced a six-month review of the US military footprint in Europe. President Trump restated his complaint that the United States was spending money to protect NATO members without getting any benefit. On Friday he blasted the one-sided relationship with NATO and attacked partners he said were not there for us in the past.