Agency Report –
She noted that NATO allies, including Germany, have pledged to increase defence spending, meaning all European partners are on a path to spending more than 3% of gross domestic product (GDP) on defence.
NATO foreign ministers, meeting for the second consecutive day to discuss bolstering the alliance’s defence alliance, were joined on Friday by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sibyha and European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday stressed the need for a clear “pathway” for allies to hike their defence contributions to up to 5% of GDP, including the US.
NATO members Germany and France are currently spending just over the current NATO target of at least 2% of GDP, while Spain and Italy remain significantly below that threshold.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has called for defence spending to be raised to “considerably north of 3%,” with a decison expected to be made at the next NATO summit in June.
