US presses NATO to agree defence spending hike

United States Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has pressed NATO members to agree to Donald Trump’s demand for a major increase in defence spending ahead of a summit later this month.

The US president has said NATO allies should boost investment in defence to 5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), up from the current target of 2 percent.Reporting from Brussels, Al Jazeera’s Hashem Ahelbarra said for some European countries, including Spain, Germany and Belgium, meeting a 5 percent target will be “extremely difficult”.

“But they have decided they are going to further coordinate their military strategy particularly when it comes to acquiring air defence systems, long-range missiles and also train their troops to be ready for the potential of any geopolitical change,” Ahelbarra said.

Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, European NATO members have been steadily increasing their defence spending.

Ahelbarra said European members are “concerned” that Russia remains the “biggest threat to stability in the region”.

Defence budget targets
Diplomats have said that countries are attempting to negotiate the timeline to achieve the 5 percent target.

Rutte has proposed reaching the target by 2032, which some countries consider too late, while others think it’s unrealistic, considering current spending and industrial production levels.

Lithuanian Defence Minister Dovile Sakaliene said on Wednesday that the 2032 target was “definitely too late, and pushed for a target of 2030 at the latest.

Swedish Defence Minister Pal Jonson told reporters on Thursday that Stockholm also wants to see the bloc reach the 5 percent target by 2030.