In Brussels, European NATO allies and Canada have expressed openness to increasing defense spending but are hesitant about meeting U.S. demands for substantial budget hikes, especially amid concerns over President Donald Trump’s approach to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine over three years ago, NATO allies have increased their defense budgets by billions. However, nearly one-third still do not meet the alliance’s target of spending at least 2% of their GDP on defense.
President Trump suggested allies should aim to spend at least 5%, which represents an exceptional financial commitment. As per NATO statistics, the U.S. expenditure was around 3.38% last year, making it the sole member whose defense spending declined over the past decade. Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly highlighted the importance of recognizing Russia as a threat, questioning the necessity of continuous defense budget escalation without a shared understanding of this threat.
At a NATO summit last year, leaders affirmed that Russia persists as the most substantial and immediate threat to Alliance security. Trump’s public efforts to rehabilitate Putin, who has faced international condemnation and war crime charges, have unsettled U.S. allies. They argue that foreclosing NATO membership for Ukraine undermined Kyiv’s negotiation position before peace talks could commence.
Additionally, Europe and Canada were unsettled when the U.S. diverged from European allies by not attributing blame to Russia for its invasion of Ukraine in three U.N. resolution votes aimed at ending the war. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio clarified that Washington isn’t requiring allies to meet the 5% target immediately, but believes it necessary for NATO to confront identified threats effectively.
Rubio stressed that increased spending is essential to enhance military capabilities, maintaining U.S. involvement in NATO while expecting partners to bolster their defense resources. When questioned about the U.S. commitment to the 5% target, Rubio confirmed intentions to reach that level soon.
France has set a goal between 3% and 3.5% spending shifts towards this objective, nearing American defense levels, as estimated spending was at 2.06% last year. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot emphasized that new funding should prioritize European over American equipment procurement, noting that European allies have majorly purchased from U.S. defense companies.
Despite calls for increased defense budgets, Trump’s tariffs create economic upheaval, potentially affecting global market stability and growth, including among NATO allies. NATO’s founding treaty emphasizes eliminating economic conflicts and promoting collaboration, with Secretary-General Mark Rutte dismissing tariff concerns as treaty breaches.
Pressed about economic strains on defense financing, Rutte clarified that commenting on non-alliance issues wouldn’t benefit NATO, as focus remains on maintaining collective defense capabilities. Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide stated that NATO members are working towards a new spending target to be revealed at the upcoming June summit, acknowledging the 5% target as ambitious and underscoring the importance of strategic expenditure.