WARSAW, Poland — On Monday, defense ministers from the five largest military spending nations in Europe convened with a collective intent to amplify their defense investment. However, they expressed that meeting the challenge posed by President-elect Donald Trump, which calls for them to allocate 5% of their national economic output to defense, will be a difficult endeavor.
Gathered near Warsaw, the ministers from Germany, France, Britain, Italy, and Poland participated in a newly established framework for their discussions, initiated following Trump’s re-election last year. Their inaugural gathering under this format occurred in Berlin at the end of November.
The ministers are actively exploring means to sustain their backing for Ukraine, particularly in light of anticipated shifts in U.S. policy with Trump assuming office. Additionally, they delved into strategies for bolstering Ukraine’s domestic arms manufacturing capabilities.
At the opening of the meeting, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius emphasized the group’s unified stance in advocating for a fair peace that allows Ukraine a role in determining its future. There is increasing unease within Europe that Trump may pressure Ukraine into making compromises to appease Russia.
The discussion also touched upon military funding, especially following Trump’s recent insistence that NATO allies boost their defense budgets to 5% of their gross domestic product (GDP)—a target that no NATO member has yet achieved, even Poland, which spends slightly over 4% and is on track to near 5% this year.
Several ministers articulated that merely concentrating on budgetary percentages may not suffice to achieve meaningful progress. “I think that a static debate about percentages doesn’t really help us if it doesn’t ultimately lead to implementing NATO’s agreed-upon goals,” Pistorius remarked during a joint press briefing, adding that it is the execution of these plans that truly matters.
Pistorius noted that if Germany were to meet the 5% target, it would need to allocate over 40% of its total national budget solely to defense, a proposition he believes would quash the debate swiftly.
Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto acknowledged the necessity for increased defense expenditure but highlighted the challenge of balancing this against the need to revive the economy. “Raising defense spending during an economic downturn is more challenging than in stable times,” Crosetto explained, proposing that integrating the defense sector into economic revitalization efforts might create a viable solution.
French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu reviewed the planned increase in defense spending as vital but insisted it should not be dedicated exclusively to military ends. He underscored the importance of safeguarding society against cyber threats, terrorism, and other forms of non-military hazards. “While there’s focus on percentages—2%, 3%, 4%—many are unclear about their implications,” Lecornu stated in response to a media query, asserting that the contemporary security landscape is more precarious than during the Cold War due to the emergence of new, heavily militarized domains, especially in the digital space.
Lecornu warned that nations could suffer defeats without direct invasion, implying that the scope of national defense should extend well beyond traditional military measures.
