NATO on cusp of accepting Trump's 5% defense investment demand

Rutte cites 'broad support' within alliance after meeting of defense ministers

20250605N NATO defense ministers

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, U.S. NATO Ambassador Matthew Whitaker and European defense ministers at NATO headquarters in Brussels on June 5. © Reuters

BRUSSELS (AP) -- Most U.S. allies at NATO endorse President Donald Trump's demand that they invest 5% of gross domestic product on their defense needs and are ready to ramp up security spending even more, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said Thursday.

"There's broad support," Rutte told reporters after chairing a meeting of NATO defense ministers at the alliance's Brussels headquarters. "We are really close," he said, and added that he has "total confidence that we will get there" by the next NATO summit in three weeks.

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