Trump Calls for NATO Countries to Spend 5 Percent of GDP on Defense

washington - President Trump urges NATO allies to increase defense spending to 5 percent of GDP, up from the current 2 percent standard.

President Trump called on NATO countries to boost their defense spending to 5 percent of GDP, a significant increase from the current 2 percent norm.

During a press conference on Tuesday, Trump emphasized the need for other countries to contribute more to defense and the military. He stated that nations failing to meet their financial obligations should not expect protection from the United States. "It should be 5 percent," he declared.

Trump highlighted that a country with a standard military already spends 4 percent of its GDP on defense, noting that they can afford it. He had previously hinted at the possibility of the U.S. withdrawing from NATO if allies did not increase their defense budgets.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte had previously suggested a 3 percent target, while the U.S. themselves allocated 3.4 percent of GDP to defense spending last year.

Netherlands, which had previously fallen short of the NATO spending goal, now barely meets the 2 percent mark. The Dutch government is moving to enshrine the 2 percent minimum into law, but a further increase to 5 percent would require an additional 30 billion euros in defense spending.