US Urges NATO to Boost Defence Spending Commitments

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth urged NATO members to adopt Donald Trump's proposed increase in defence spending to 5% of GDP, up from the current 2%, ahead of a summit later this month. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte suggested a compromise of 3.5% for defence and 1.5% for broader security. Countries like Spain and Germany find 5% difficult, but aim to strengthen military coordination and readiness. Since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, European NATO members have boosted spending. Debates continue over the timeline, with some nations pushing for the target by 2030, though many see it as ambitious and costly.