US Pushes for NATO Members to Reach 5% GDP Defense Spending
On Thursday, the United States emphasized the need for NATO member states to commit to spending up to 5% of their gross domestic product (GDP) on defense. In remarks made at a NATO foreign ministers’ meeting in Brussels, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio framed the ongoing war in Ukraine as a stark reminder that hard power remains essential as a deterrent.
“We want to leave here with an understanding that we are on a pathway, a realistic pathway, to every single one of the members committing and fulfilling a promise to reach up to 5% (of GDP) of spending,” Rubio said. The U.S., currently allocating approximately 3.36% of its GDP to defense as of 2023, would also need to increase its own defense budget to meet the new target.
Rubio dismissed concerns about the U.S. potentially withdrawing from NATO as “hysteria and hyperbole,” reinforcing that the Trump administration remains a strong supporter of NATO’s mission. He argued that NATO’s strength and viability depend on its members’ ability to contribute more. “This is a collection of not just partners and allies, but of advanced economies, of rich countries who have the capability to do more,” he added.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte also spoke at the meeting, praising U.S. efforts to bring peace to Ukraine. He highlighted Europe’s ongoing role in supporting Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression, calling Russia the primary threat to the alliance. However, he warned that China, North Korea, and Iran’s support of Russia’s actions in Ukraine poses a broader axis of threats to NATO.
Rutte emphasized the increasing interconnectedness of the Indo-Pacific and European security theaters. “Both regions must be treated as one in light of the growing global challenges we face,” he concluded.
