NATO Weighs Trump Call for 5% Defense Spending

15 May at 8:11 am

3811 posts

NATO Weighs Trump Call for 5% Defense Spending/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ NATO ministers are grappling with a U.S. proposal to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP, just months before a major summit with President Trump. The ambitious goal reflects Washington’s growing focus on threats from Russia, terrorism, and China. Many NATO countries still fall short of current 2% targets, raising doubts over feasibility.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte talks to journalists as he arrives for NATO’s informal meeting of foreign ministers in Antalya, southern Turkey, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)

NATO Defense Spending Demands Quick Looks

U.S. proposes new NATO defense goal of 5% GDP
New formula includes military budgets, infrastructure, and cyber
Current NATO target is 2%; many still fall short
Only 22 of 32 member states meet 2% mark
Plan would need to be met by 2032
Trump casts doubt on defending under-spending allies
Rutte: Post-Ukraine war Russia could rearm fast
Ukraine left waiting as Russia talks stall
Zelenskyy sidelined as summit invite remains unclear
European defense independence challenged by U.S. reliance

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, right, talks to British Foreign Secretary David Lammy during an informal meeting of NATO’s foreign ministers in Antalya, southern Turkey, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)

Deep Look: NATO Confronts U.S. Pressure to Spend More on Defense

ANTALYA, Turkey — May 15, 2025 — NATO foreign ministers met in Antalya on Thursday under pressure from Washington to embrace a dramatic hike in defense spending—up to 5% of gross domestic product—as the alliance faces increasing global threats and shifting U.S. priorities.

The proposal, backed by President Donald Trump and presented by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, aims to reframe NATO’s long-standing 2% spending target to reflect modern military needs, including infrastructure and cybersecurity.

“The alliance is only as strong as its weakest link,” Rubio said, insisting NATO adapt to meet 21st-century threats like Russia, terrorism, and China.

Breaking Down the 5% Proposal

The draft spending goal includes:

3.5% of GDP for direct military budgets
1.5% for defense-related infrastructure like roads, bridges, and airports critical for military mobility
Cybersecurity investments, which may redefine how NATO measures total defense spending

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte stopped short of confirming the numbers, but emphasized that logistics and resilience must now count in security strategy.

“If a bridge must carry tanks, not just cars, then it’s defense spending,” Rutte noted.

Still, consensus is elusive. Diplomats left Antalya without narrowing down a firm commitment, and many questioned the timeline’s feasibility.

Trump’s Shadow Looms Over NATO Summit

The debate comes ahead of the NATO Summit in The Hague on June 24–25, where Trump is expected to push hard for more investment, following his repeated claims that U.S. allies aren’t paying their share. His remarks have already chilled trust among under-spending members, some of whom fear being left out of collective defense protections.

“This is a wake-up call,” said Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys, who urged faster defense buildup: “Russia is regenerating its forces in real-time.”

Ukraine and Russia: Still a Core Focus

While NATO formally continues to treat Russia as the primary threat, this summit cycle is shadowed by uncertainty over Ukraine’s role. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy waited in Ankara for a potential meeting with Vladimir Putin, which never materialized.

Meanwhile, Trump’s administration has removed any near-term NATO accession for Ukraine from consideration. It remains unclear whether Zelenskyy will even be invited to The Hague summit, signaling a dramatic shift in U.S. and alliance posture.

Who Can Meet the 5% Goal?

Meeting the proposed spending threshold will be difficult for many:

Countries like Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Italy, and Spain are not yet at 2%, the current minimum.
Spain plans to hit that mark by 2025, a year late.
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy pledged 2.5% by 2027, and 3% by 2029—still well below 5%.

Analysts say Europe’s reliance on U.S. military infrastructure and fragmented defense industries remain critical bottlenecks in becoming strategically autonomous.

“Europe must do more than talk about independence—it must fund it,” said one diplomat.

Security Beyond Europe: China and NATO’s Global Role

As Washington pivots attention to China and the Indo-Pacific, NATO’s role outside Europe is being reevaluated. The alliance no longer has active missions beyond the Euro-Atlantic region after its chaotic Afghanistan exit in 2021.