Post by : Jyoti Gupta

Photo:Reuters

United States Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is urging NATO countries to agree to President Donald Trump’s plan to increase defense spending. Trump want every NATO country to spend 5% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on defense. Right now, the target is just 2%.

Hegseth spoke on Thursday in Brussels at a meeting of defense ministers. He said, “Being in an alliance means more than just showing flags. It means being ready to fight if needed.” He added that the goal of 5% spending should be agreed on before the NATO summit later this month in The Hague.

To reach a compromise, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte suggested another plan. He wants NATO members to spend 3.5% of GDP on defense and another 1.5% on general security. He said, “We have to act faster and do more.” Rutte confirmed that defense spending will be the main topic of discussion at the upcoming NATO summit.

According to Al Jazeera’s reporter Hashem Ahelbarra, some European countries—like Spain, Germany, and Belgium—are finding the 5% goal very hard to meet. But they have decided to work together more closely. They plan to buy more air defense systems, and long-range missiles, and improve training for their soldiers.

Ever since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, many NATO countries in Europe have been spending more on defense. These countries believe that Russia is still the biggest danger to peace in the region.

NATO members are now discussing when they can reach the 5% spending goal. Rutte suggested the year 2032, but some think that’s too late. Lithuania’s Defence Minister Dovile Sakaliene wants the goal met by 2030. Sweden also supports the 2030 target.

Meanwhile, NATO officials say that even aiming for these new goals would mean spending about 3.5% to 3.7% of GDP on average for most countries.