President Donald Trump said Wednesday that NATO allies agreed a year ago to allocate 5% of GDP to defense, but most have not yet met the target, Israeli media report. The statement underscores continued US pressure on alliance members to raise military spending.
President Donald Trump stated Wednesday evening that NATO allies had agreed a year ago to spend 5% of their GDP on defense, but most have not yet met the target, according to an Israeli media report. The remark, reported as a direct quote from Trump, signals continued pressure from Washington on alliance members to increase military budgets. The 5% figure is significantly higher than NATO's current informal guideline of 2% of GDP. Trump's statement comes as the US maintains an active air campaign against Iran and has been pressing allies to share more of the defense burden. The claim is a single-source report of a presidential statement; there is no immediate independent confirmation from NATO or other officials.
- DevelopingTrump expresses frustration with NATO allies' support, questions commitment to mutual defense
- StrongTrump posts new criticism of NATO allies' spending, German defense chief fires back
- DevelopingTrump: 'I want to stay in NATO, willing to continue selling weapons to allies'
- StrongNATO's Rutte credits Trump with spurring $1.2 trillion in European, Canadian defense spending
Source and signal
A single-sourced dispatch is never rated Confirmed or Strong. Its Signal strengthens only when a second, independent source corroborates it.
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