**NATO Members to Set Ambitious Defense Spending Goal**
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is set to achieve a historic milestone in defense spending, with members agreeing to increase their expenditures to 5% of their GDP over the next decade. This goal was announced by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on May 15, ahead of the annual NATO summit in The Hague on June 24-25.
According to Rubio, virtually all member countries are already at or above the current defense spending target of 2%, with many nations exceeding 4%. The agreement to reach 5% would be a significant achievement for the alliance, marking the first time its members have collectively committed to such a high goal. This move demonstrates NATO’s resilience and commitment to collective defense in the face of growing security threats.
**Trump’s Influence Wanes**
The ambitious defense spending goal comes as the United States’ commitment to NATO under President Donald Trump remains uncertain. Trump has been critical of European countries for not contributing their fair share to the alliance’s defense needs, threatening to reevaluate the U.S.’s role in the organization if they fail to meet defense spending targets.
However, with Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine and growing security concerns in Europe, NATO members have significantly increased their defense spending since 2022. Countries like Poland and the Baltic nations are among those aiming to reach the 5% target in the coming years, demonstrating a renewed commitment to collective defense.
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