Trump Criticizes NATO Spending, Proposes 5% GDP Defense Target

U.S. President Donald Trump expressed doubts about U.S. spending on NATO, stating the U.S. protects NATO members without reciprocal benefits. Speaking after signing an executive order, Trump reiterated his call for NATO allies to increase defense spending to 5% of their GDP, a significant rise from the current 2% target.

Trump emphasized the U.S. commitment to the alliance but criticized the imbalance in contributions, saying, "We’re protecting them. They’re not protecting us." At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Trump again urged NATO members to meet the proposed 5% defense spending goal.

The U.S. currently finances 15.8% of NATO’s annual $3.5 billion budget, tied with Germany as the largest contributor. While this excludes indirect contributions such as U.S. military forces, the U.S. defense budget reached $816.7 billion in 2023, exceeding the combined spending of all NATO members.

Trump’s new Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, reassured NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte of U.S. commitment to the alliance. The two discussed bolstering defense capabilities and burden-sharing among members, according to the State Department.

Analysts and officials believe NATO is unlikely to adopt Trump’s 5% target, citing economic and political challenges. However, concerns over Russia’s potential aggression following the Ukraine conflict may push NATO to agree on a higher goal, likely around 3%. Despite these pressures, many members still struggle to meet the existing 2% benchmark, with eight countries falling short even a decade after the target was established.

A decision on revised defense spending goals is expected at the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague this June.