Strengthening Needed: Rubio Outlines New Demands for NATO Countries.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that NATO member countries must agree to spend 5% of their GDP on defense needs. He made this statement during a briefing with the NATO Secretary General ahead of the Alliance ministers' meeting. According to Rubio, NATO member countries can fulfill this commitment even in the absence of sufficient funds in their budgets. He also stressed that the U.S. must also increase its defense spending. Rubio noted that Russian aggression and recent events highlight the necessity of strengthening defense.