Rutte announced plans for NATO spending following Trump's demands.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the Munich Security Conference stated that Alliance member countries must increase their defense spending to more than 3% of GDP. This comes in the context of Donald Trump's demands to raise spending to 5% of GDP.
Rutte noted that for the last 40 years, Alliance member countries have not paid enough for defense, and the U.S. has the right to demand a change in spending. He emphasized that the new target should be agreed upon at the NATO leaders' summit in The Hague in June.
'In the coming months, we will reach closer positions' on budgetary goals
According to the Alliance, there currently is insufficient air defense systems, long-range missiles, and tanks to support the armies.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has comments that European allies 'cannot assume that American presence will last forever,' but Rutte emphasized that American commitment to NATO must be maintained.
Regarding Ukraine, Rutte stated that everything will depend on peace negotiations and whether Russia does not seize any part of Ukraine.
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