NATO Secretary-General Proposes 5% GDP Defense Spending Target Amid US Pressure

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has proposed raising military spending targets for member states to a combined 5% of GDP, consisting of 3.5% for core defense and 1.5% for related investments, in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s demands for increased burden-sharing. This proposal will be a central topic at the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague, amid concerns that failing to meet these targets could jeopardize U.S. support. The UK, currently planning to increase defense spending to 2.5% by 2027 and aiming for 3% in the next Parliament, faces pressure to commit to the new 3.5% target to align with U.S. expectations and NATO’s evolving standards. NATO members are debating timelines and definitions of defense-related expenditures, with some Eastern European countries advocating for faster implementation. Rutte emphasized that sticking to the current 2% target is insufficient for long-term security and fairness relative to U.S. defense spending. The summit will test NATO’s ability to unify members around these ambitious spending goals while balancing national budgetary realities and political demands.